Construction National Winter 2016/17 by DMMonline

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COVER STORY

Specialist builders take care home construction to a new level If the director of a construction company describes a project as one of his favourites, you can be sure it’s a bit special. Such was the case with Sairam Villa, the care home for the elderly featured on this issue’s front cover. The company concerned is TEC Construction – who specialise in care home construction – and we look at a number of their projects in this issue.

The story is part of a special feature on care homes beginning on page 19

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NEWS 8 8 9 10 10 10 11 12 13 14

PM makes herself clear on Brexit Efforts to combat slavery get a boost Is the battle over Brexit really having an impact on the construction industry? CSCS to stop issuing CRO cards Construction industry opens its doors to career seekers Charcon breaks the mould for Cannon Wharf Business Centre Ecobuild 2017 – regeneration is the name of the game Kensa unveils an evolutionary new heat pump for 2017 Site services specialist to continue expansion in 2017...and beyond It’s onwards and upwards for industry events

LEGAL ISSUES 14 The new JCT Standard Building Contract 2016 edition: a major leap forward or minor revision? SECURITY 15 OnGarde – solar powered camera success

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING 17 Are you addressing your BIM skills shortage? CARE HOMES – SPECIAL FEATURE 19 Care home providers are forging ahead in challenging times 19 Ordinary exterior belies a special environment 20 Award recognises home design’s ‘soul’ 21 Savana offers the space to thrive 23 Specialist builders take care home construction to a new level 29 Housing group expands to provide luxury care in the South East PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE 32 Brown & Carroll polishes up its project planning with Asta Powerproject Enterprise TRAINING & EDUCATION 34 CIOB launches its own Academy 34 ICE extends membership to non-engineers 34 Employer sponsorship helps dad-of-three to degree 36 How do we stop the growing skills shortages? 38 Apprentices shine in SkillBuild final 38 CITB funding reaches £2m milestone 39 Further development of CPCS on the cards

ZOOS 41 41 42 43 43 45 47 49

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New arrivals the spur to zoo building projects Work carries on apace on new sea lion habitat in Norfolk Nautilus turnkey projects: embracing new technology New pad has leopards purring Tropical improvements continue in Leeds Black rhinos and rainbow lorikeets add more colour to Flamingo Land Businesses help out the man who bought a zoo Tiger Day sees new enclosure opened

For all other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 Email: editorial@dmmonline.co.uk Suite 2, 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AW Editor: Chris Stokes Copyright Construction National. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Construction National. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company Plc www.magprint.co.uk

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CONTENTS HEALTH & SAFETY 50 Supervisor allows workers into contaminated area 50 Refurb companies can make Valentine’s Day a safety day 50 Health in the workplace: securing your future 51 Cygnus wireless alarm system expands with new HF range

WORKING AT HEIGHT 52 NASC 2016 AGM news round-up 52 Colin Butt buys Palmers Scaffolding 53 Inaugural winners announced for Scaffolding Product Innovation Award 54 NASC Apprentice of the Year 2016 55 Record attendance at Working at Height Best Practice Forum CONCRETE 56 Structural Concrete Alliance announces 2016 award winners MODULAR BUILDINGS 57 MPBA training provides route to CSCS cards with new upskilling NVQ Level 2 58 It’s been a vibrant quarter of a century for Harlequin 59 Springfield – looking ahead with family values

ROOFING 60 Call for entries for Roofing Awards 2017 61 The only bituminous roofing membrane with a 40-year BBA durability statement 61 Alumasc’s SupaGOLD waterproofing provides perfect flat roof solution 63 Using Icopal’s Noxite roofing range to combat pollution 64 New green roof research identifies plugs as best way to establish healthy soil ecosystems PROFILES 65 Mixbrow Construction – rural idyll is home to go-ahead contractor 67 Drew Construction – building a reputation over more than a century DEMOLITION 68 Synchronised demolition: the next Olympic sport? 68 Nominations still open for NFDC awards 69 What goes up, must come down 70 Truly sustainable

FINANCE 71 Did Christmas come at the wrong time for you? 73 Asset finance in three easy steps 74 Injecting cash when you need it most 75 Sector bucks Brexit doom predictions – with employment prospects looking up 75 Your own limited company: an easy guide to getting started ON THE ROAD 77 Award-winning Transporter adds greater economy to its many features 79 The choice of experts is…the Expert 79 New engine gives Boxer more punch DRAINAGE 80 Clark-Drain wins the NBG 2016 award 80 New rules set to ‘pump’ up the order book at Fabweld Steel Products 81 Network Rail High Speed adopts WinCan family HOUSING 82 Bill’s fifth NHBC title is a record! 82 Architect wins RIBA award for own home 82 Direct Corporate Clothing reports strong growth 83 Building controllers name their winning projects 83 Owners pitch in to help land conversion title 87 Country house extension clears the extra hurdle 89 Award-winning new townhouses continue architectural tradition 90 Long-standing relationship brings its reward

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[THE FRONT COVER of this issue showcases the very best in building for social care. Sairam Villa in Harrow

is a purpose-built care home for elderly residents from the Asian community. It was built by specialist contractor TEC Construction – one of a select band of builders who have made their name in that niche market. We take an in-depth look at the company as part of our second special feature on the subject of social care facilities. An often overlooked part of the sector is the provision of residential care for younger adults with particular needs who require specialist facilities. We broaden our own horizons to include this rewarding sector. • Social housing provision in general has been in decline in recent years, so a major initiative to redress the balance is worthy of reporting. Such is the case in Winchester, where the city council is aiming to build 300 affordable homes by 2022. Their partner in the enterprise is local contractor Drew Construction, a longestablished builder in that part of the country. • Their New Forest home could give a clue to another out-of-the-ordinary project Drew are currently involved in – the new Tropical House at Marwell Zoo, also just outside Winchester. Zoos pose particular challenges for contractors: the welfare of the animals is the subject of strict regulation, while the need to allow interaction between the animals and their visitors offers a wealth of possibilities to designers. This issue’s feature on zoos looks at some less obvious projects – including a new tiger house at Dartmoor, subject of Hollywood film We Bought a Zoo. • Specialist skills are obviously needed for the design and realisation of accommodation for the animal kingdom; but the same can also be said for any construction project. Skills training is vital for any modern economy and much has been said and written – in this publication as much as anywhere – on the skills gap that is engulfing the construction industry. The industry itself is striving as hard as is possible to prevent that gap from widening and the many initiatives to make construction attractive to new entrants are doing much to help. The annual SkillBuild competition has been instrumental in publicising the industry to young people. Last year’s competition, held in November at the NEC, saw 10 young hopefuls winning through, looking to go further and book their place at the World Skills competition in Abu Dhabi. • Success in competition with their peers was also achieved by the country’s top site managers, when the NHBC Pride in the Job competition reached its final stage in London in January. This year saw a record broken when Bill Hughes, of Miller Homes North West, took the title in the Large Builder category for the fifth time. Congratulations to Bill on his achievement. • Back in November a competition that also celebrates the relationship between builders and their local communities – this time in the shape of their building control departments – reported its successes. The LABC Building Excellence Awards look for projects that excel in all areas of the built environment, as well as builders and contractors that work best within that environment. Again, we take a snapshot of some notable examples, including a residential project where the owners got involved. • Local involvement is one key area where the construction industry can lead the effort to mitigate the effect of development on the environment and limit carbon emissions. A leading exposition in that sphere is the annual Ecobuild show, held every March at London’s ExCeL. This year’s show will be held from 7-9 March and Construction National is proud to be a media partner for the event. • Which brings us to Brexit ...just kidding! q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

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PM makes herself clear on Brexit [ CLARITY WAS THE watchword

heard most often from the construction industry in its response to Prime Minister May’s historic speech on the direction the UK’s Brexit negotiations will take. Jeremy Blackburn, head of UK policy at the RICS wrote: “The public, industry and investors now have a much clearer understanding of what Brexit truly means and with it, the clarity to take us through to 2019.” However, he pointed out that some of the issues made clear are not entirely welcome. “While this clarity is undoubtedly welcome,” he said, “one thing is clear: a loss of access to the EU’s skilled workforce has the potential to slowly bring the UK’s property and construction sector to a standstill. That means that unless alternative plans are put in place, we won’t be able to deliver the thousands of homes needed to solve our housing crisis or create the infrastructure needed to enable our cities to compete on a global stage. This is a potentially embarrassing situation for a government which is set to publish both its Housing White Paper and Industrial Strategy.” The theme of clarity was echoed by Julia Evans, chief executive of the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA). In a post on the wiki Designing Buildings, she wrote: “It is fair to say that BSRIA members and the industry at large will welcome the greater clarity and the aspiration to create a more affluent, flourishing, open and

global Britain, with the freest possible trade between the UK and the EU. Indeed, May said Britain wants to trade with the EU ‘as freely as possible’ but will not be ‘half-in, half-out’.” She, too, saw potential threats to the country’s skills base that could come with the removal of free movement. She added: “If citizens of the EU27 are subject to future restrictions, a straightforward and light-touch system is crucial. Bringing EU nationals into the costly and bureaucratic Home Office work permit system can be an immense regulatory burden for many members, especially when their immediate skills shortages continue to be critical.” The response was not all gloom and doom. Many in the industry welcomed the opportunity to build new trading relationships. JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: “I am very encouraged by the vision set out by the Prime Minister today. The UK voted to leave the European Union and she is determined to make this happen in a way that restores our sovereignty but which ensures the UK becomes a global leader in free trade. “British business now needs to get behind the government as it sets out to secure the best deal for our country’s future. As the Prime Minister said, we are leaving the EU but we are not leaving Europe; it will remain an important market for British business, but we need to be able to trade freely with the rest of the world as well.” q

Efforts to combat slavery get a boost [ A NEW INITIATIVE has been developed by Willmott Dixon in the

fight against modern-day slavery in the construction industry. The project will help construction firms and the supply chain to identify illegal workers and trafficking activities through a serious of Right to Work training videos. Around 1,000 construction businesses are expected benefit from the videos. The company’s chief human resources officer said: “At Willmott Dixon we believe strongly that our industry should lead the way in ensuring and safeguarding the rights and treatment of our workforce, which includes compliance with all legislation regarding employees’ right to work.” According to the Home Office, 53 potential victims of trafficking into construction were referred to the authorities in 2013; but slavery’s hidden nature means actual numbers are likely to be much higher. Businesses already have an obligation to make training about slavery and human trafficking available to staff under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and penalties for non-compliance are severe. The initiative has attracted a grant of £18,500 from CITB’s Flexible and Structured Fund. Geeta Nathan, head of economic analysis at CITB, said: “The threat of human trafficking in construction is real. Firms want to root it out, but don’t always know how. This project will help companies to protect staff, abide by the law and uphold the reputation of the industry. We commend the efforts of Willmott Dixon for initiating this project and are pleased to support them with industry investment.” q

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Is the battle over Brexit really having an impact on the construction industry? [ OPINIONS PUT FORWARD at a recent industry forum lead us to believe that the ‘Uncertainty Shock’ is likely to continue throughout negotiations for Brexit, suggesting a slowdown and curtailment in growth of GDP. Construction industry growth in 2016 has been predicted at 2.1%, however it is felt that this may drop in 2017 to a level of 1.7%. The general opinion is that we will not go into recession again within the next two years. Retail growth will continue into 2017, with major purchases being promoted by wage growth at around 2.4%, although economists claim that the Consumer Price Index will remain low at 0.9%. Reasons for this could be that production and operating cost increases are being absorbed into margins. We are not seeing a rise in costs as yet. The pressure on inflation is high and is expected to spike in late 2017 / early 2018 to around 3%. More policy easing is expected to support spending, particularly into housing, as seen in the Autumn Statement. There have been a rise in planning applications in 2016 for housing and educational establishments, which is likely to balance reduced investment in health. Construction in hotel and leisure facilities is likely to increase as Brexit unfolds, and as exchange rates remain poor for UK citizens. Inner town regeneration will support growth of discount retail chains. The development of commercial space in London will remain strong in 2017/18, but is likely to decline throughout the rest of the UK. There is an ongoing ‘industrial renaissance’ in logistics space, which is anticipated to continue into 2018. According to Bloomberg, the

By ANDREW WILSON LLM MBA PgDip BSc(Hons) Director at THSP Risk Management growth and independence of ‘northern power houses’, such as Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, remains years away.

What does this really mean for the construction industry? The main conclusions we can draw from the above statements are that in 2017 we will see an overall weakening in construction project starts and outputs by around minus 4% compared to 2016. London will continue to boom, particularly in affordable and social housing, education facilities and commercial space, giving rise to opportunities for construction companies in this area. Economic growth in 2017 is anticipated to be slow, however cost of living increases are expected to occur. Economic improvements are anticipated for 2018, especially in the construction industry where growth is expected to be around 2.2%. q

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CSCS to stop issuing CRO cards [ THE Construction Skills Certification

Scheme (CSCS) is reminding industry to be prepared for the withdrawal of the Construction Related Occupation (CRO) card. CSCS will stop issuing CRO cards from 31 March and all CRO cards issued since October 2015 will expire on 30 September. CSCS head of communications Alan O’Neile said: “The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced that skills certification card schemes carrying the CSCS logo must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, such as NVQs or approved equivalents. The CRO card is issued without the requirement to demonstrate the applicant has achieved an appropriate qualification and as such does not meet the requirements of the CLC.” The removal of the CRO card will affect over 230,000 CRO cardholders and the alternatives available will depend on the qualifications held and whether an occupation is categorised as construction related. In many cases CRO card holders will be required to register for existing or newly developed qualifications before their CRO cards expire. In others CRO card holders will be transferred to one of CSCS’s Partner Card Schemes that are more appropriate for their occupations.

For some, where their occupation is not construction related or no suitable qualification exists, a CSCS card will no longer be issued and it will be the responsibility of site supervisors and managers to ensure those workers are properly supervised and managed. CSCS chief executive Graham Wren added: “Together with our key industry stakeholders we have been preparing for the eventual withdrawal of the CRO card since 2015. This development is fully in line with the industry’s desire to ensure a fully-qualified workforce and a lot of work

has taken place to ensure CRO card holders know which qualifications are available and to make their transition to appropriate alternative arrangements as smooth as possible. “The withdrawal of the CRO card is a practical step towards achieving the CLC’s requirement of ensuring nationally recognised qualifications are in place for all occupations. By certifying construction workers have the correct training and qualifications CSCS can play its part in improving standards and safety on UK construction sites.” q

Construction industry opens its doors to career seekers [PEOPLE INTERESTED IN finding out more about a career in construction can now book to visit a site near them as part of this year’s Open Doors, which takes place from 27 March to 1 April. Open Doors is a scheme whereby Build UK members open live construction sites and offices to the public to go ‘behind the scenes’ and showcase the huge variety of careers available in the industry. It seeks to inspire young people and career changers to consider a career in construction. Last year’s event saw a record 3,000 people visit 138 construction sites across England, Scotland and Wales. Build UK’s chief executive Suzannah Nichol MBE said: “With bookings now open and more and more sites registering to take part in Open Doors, 2017 is set to be another hugely successful event.” q

Charcon breaks the mould for Cannon Wharf Business Centre [CHARCON, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate

Industries, has successfully completed a significant delivery to the first construction phase of Cannon Wharf Business Centre in South London. Materials supplied included just over 6,000m2 of StoneMaster in Mid Grey and Light Grey hues and almost one kilometre of Eco Countryside Kerb. The products were specified due to their high quality finish of lightly etched premium granite aggregate. Working in partnership with the designers, Townshend Landscape Architects, the Charcon specification team added a new 300x100x80 size to the StoneMaster range, specifically for the project. The paving has been utilised in the project’s public realm, including courtyard areas and access roads, complementing and enhancing the buildings it surrounds. With up to 50% and 82% of reclaimed and recycled material respectively, the use of Charcon’s StoneMaster and Eco Countryside Kerb hard landscaping products is helping client Barratt London meet the project’s sustainability targets. With two different paving products supplied in large quantities, the logistics of ensuring the client had what they needed, and when, within phase one was planned to the letter. The team at Charcon worked closely with the groundworks team to establish a detailed delivery schedule, adhering to a range of strict site rules and regulations. Mike Davies, specifications manager at Charcon, said: “The Cannon Wharf project is significant for the Surrey Quays area, as development continues along this part of the River Thames, and we’re very excited about the phases to come.

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“By collaborating early, we were able to bring our expertise and product knowledge to the table to ensure the right solution for the project was specified.” Cannon Wharf is located five minutes’ walk away from Greenland Dock and will replace an existing business centre space to provide new homes, commercial space and public realm. A variety of large and medium scale buildings will comprise 6,588m2 of commercial space and 679 residential units along with an on-site energy centre, 401 car parking spaces, cycle parking and associated landscaping. q • To find out more about the Charcon range of products visit the website at www.charcon.com.

Ecobuild 2017 – regeneration is the name of the game [ECOBUILD returns in March (7-9) with an

overarching theme of regeneration, which will be brought to life through an immersive exhibition and conference programme that will redefine sustainability, identify future growth sectors and tackle the housing crisis. The leading show for built environment professionals, Ecobuild 2017 will see ExCeL London transformed into a ‘city’ – complete with a main street, distinct destinations and special feature attractions. Central to the experience will be Regeneration Drive, a boulevard running through the centre of the exhibition floor, linking different aspects of the show and enabling visitors to experience the very best examples of innovation and creativity from across the built environment. Martin Hurn, brand director at Ecobuild, explained: “For 2017, we’re completely overhauling and innovating the Ecobuild experience. We asked our visitors what they want and need from the show, and sustainability overwhelmingly came to the top of the agenda. To deliver this, we’ve ripped up the floorplan and reinvented Ecobuild as an immersive city centred around Regeneration Drive. “Imagining the exhibition as a city allows us to deliver a unique programme focused on regeneration, in a way that is relevant and inclusive to all our exhibitors and visitors. Different aspects of construction and the built environment deserve specific focus, and each of Ecobuild 2017’s destinations will have something distinct and exciting to offer.” As visitors make their way up Regeneration Drive, they will be introduced to key destinations including The Arena, City Hall, The Campus, The Gateway and The Performance Lab. The Arena will be home to the Ecobuild Conference, with headline guest speakers, staging a range of keynote speeches from industry thought leaders and innovators across the three days. As part of the programme, UK-GBC will host daily leadership panels chaired by the organisation’s CEO, Julie Hirigoyen. The show’s sustainability hub, City Hall, will be home to the UK-GBC and World Green Building Council, representing the culmination of Ecobuild’s Redefining Sustainability campaign – which seeks to create an industry-wide understanding of sustainability objectives and drives, and a clear direction for the future. Architectural collective Assemble will also present its award-winning Granby Workshop project at the Campus – the show’s destination for innovative thinking and the latest technology. Visitors will be able to view and interact with a unique installation created by Assemble, telling the story behind the collective’s Turner Prize winning regeneration project. Attendees will be also able to interact with Future Materials, a gallery curated by ARCC, previewing next-

generation materials and processes currently in either research or testing stage. The Gateway is where visitors can explore national and social infrastructure projects in partnership with ICE, as well as a separate seminar theatre dedicated to Green Infrastructure. In response to the increased Government and industry focus on offsite construction, Ecobuild has also partnered with Explore Offsite to bring a significant showcase of the exciting opportunities offered by offsite technology in the future of construction, with the industry’s leading suppliers and a series of daily masterclasses. Another new partnership sees Ecobuild and UK District Energy Association creating a new and exciting area – the ukDEA District Energy Town Square, host to leading British suppliers and also international pavilions from Sweden and Denmark, two of the most mature district energy markets in the world. The ukDEA District Energy Town Square will be located adjacent to Ecobuild’s Performance Lab. Day one of the Ecobuild Conference will focus on future-proofing building and construction. Key topics will include the housing crisis and the future of offsite construction, while Ecobuild’s Big Innovation Pitch reaches its climax with finalists presenting solutions to M&S and a panel of industry judges. The second day will see industry leaders debate solutions to the housing crisis, featuring a panel including Jules Pipe, deputy mayor, planning regeneration and skills, Greater London Authority, and Ben Derbyshire, partner HTA Design and RIBA president-elect, amongst other sector

experts. Broadcaster Will Gompertz will also interview Niall McLaughlin of Niall McLaughlin Architects, recent RIBA Charles Jencks winner. Amongst other topics, Day 3 will include the implications of Brexit for UK construction and considering the wellbeing of future generations when planning. Although more than two thirds of professionals in the built environment identify sustainability as the industry topic of greatest interest to them, the actual meaning of the term is constantly developing. Ecobuild’s Redefining Sustainability campaign has been developed to drive discussions about and ultimately create a universally accepted understanding of sustainability that is appealing, engaging and most importantly, accessible to all. Ecobuild has announced key collaborations with lead partner UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC), World GBC, RIBA, BRE, the Construction Products Association, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), CIAT and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Additionally, pavilions will be showcased from associations including the Builders Merchants Federation, Passivhaus Trust, NFRC, Concrete Pavilion, TRADA and the STA. With such a wide variety of exhibitors and partners, this year’s show will provide the industry with the perfect platform to collaborate and address the key issues of regeneration and its role in shaping sustainability. q • Free registration is now open for visitors. For more information on this year’s event, exhibitors and conference topics, visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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Kensa unveils an evolutionary new heat pump for 2017

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KENSA HEAT PUMPS, the UKs confirmed leading supplier of ground source heat pumps, has released details of a brand-new ‘Evo’ series, which claims to deliver significantly improved efficiencies. Manufactured in Cornwall, the new Evo ground source heat pump series builds upon Kensa’s eighteen years of experience designing heat pumps specifically for British properties. Kensa’s managing director, Simon Lomax, said: “The Kensa Evo represents a significant step forward and is a testimony to the ingenuity of an engineering team which focuses exclusively on ground source heat pumps. The Evo series is more efficient and we have also worked hard to reduce noise levels to industry-leading levels. And we have not forgotten that the Evo must be simple to install and maintain.” Offering a 15 per cent gain in efficiency in order to minimise running costs and maximise income via the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive, the Kensa Evo is now available to pre-order for delivery from this spring in 7kW, 9kW, 13kW and 15kW single phase models. The ERP A++ rated Evo delivers heating and hot water efficiencies of SCOPs to 4.2 at 35°C along with significantly reduced noise outputs, packaged in a contemporary contoured gunmetal and gloss-white finish, punctuated by a custom built control panel unique to the Kensa series. According to operations director, James Standley: “All of the ‘off-theshelf’ controllers failed to deliver all the functionality demanded by our specification so we have designed a bespoke control unit.” Designed for larger new builds and renovation projects, the Evo will supplement Kensa’s market-leading Shoebox 3kW and 6kW models which are ideally suited for smaller new builds. Simon Lomax added: “With the Kensa Shoebox Heat Pump, we revolutionised the ground source heat pump market and opened up the potential for the technology to be used in the mass market new build sector. Since then, we have focussed on the Evo development which is the evolution of our Compact series, the original Kensa heat pump launched in 1999. With the Shoebox and our new Evo series, alongside our Twin Compact and Plantroom models, Kensa has a product portfolio that suits every application, and all models are backed-up by our exceptional technical support. “We are proud that BSRIA market reports have confirmed Kensa as the leading UK supplier of ground source heat pumps for the past four years, and we are confident that we can build upon this success with the Evo series to support the government’s ambitious targets for heat pump deployment.”

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Performance Each model in the Kensa Evo series has optimised sized stainless steel heat exchangers, which allows the compressor to respond more efficiently, increasing SCOP performance and delivering 60°C domestic hot water.

Appearance The ergonomic steel casing has been designed with a focus on ease of access, whilst providing sturdy yet stylish protection from ageing and wear and tear.

Installation The Evo has been designed to be easy to handle and install. With just one single cross head screw in its unique bevelled front panel, the Evo’s electrical component and wiring terminals are easily accessible with the removal of just one panel. The heat pump has four rear water connections, two for the ground collectors and two for the property’s heating distribution system. The connections consist of four 28mm straight brass fittings designed with minimal tolerances, ensuring compatibility with easy to install push fittings. The external side panels feature a curved cut-out offering the installer an extra level of flexibility to install the Evo according to the demands of the site, with vertical and horizontal pipework exit points from the sides and top of the unit.

Controls Kensa has developed its own control board which is the brain of the new Evo heat pump. The customer interface is an intuitive touch screen that facilitates commissioning and parameter settings, and provides live status readings supported by LED light indicators. The custom built software also permits the control board to pre-empt system irregularities using warning safety levels, which may previously have resulted in a fault if left unchecked. This pro-active system will ultimately reduce costs and call outs and enable better diagnostics and system resolution, aided by Kensa’s technical support and UK wide installation network. q • For further information call 0845 680 4328 or visit the website at www.kensaheatpumps.com.

Site services specialist to continue expansion in 2017...and beyond [ SINCE 2010 AvantgardeFM, a nationally

operating provider of site services, has specialised in the deployment of manned and technical security solutions across the UK. In early 2016 the company expanded its scope of deliverable services. The expansion of operations includes the supply of site labour, reactive maintenance and facility cleaning services. The uptake of these additional services has rapidly become a necessary requirement among a growing number of UK construction contractors, who have been quick to realise the cost and time saving benefits made when deploying AvantgardeFM as the dedicated facilities management specialist. With an established and effectively distributed network of support hubs, Avantgarde’s multiple daily service deployments, located throughout the UK, remain compliant with the specific terms of each contract and AvantgardeFM’s guiding quality management policy. The company’s strict recruitment policy for its successful operatives continues to supply

some of the best performing individuals within the facilities management industry. To support local employment, all security guards and onsite operatives are, in accordance with the company’s environmental policy, preferentially recruited from an area local to their deployments. Paired with the company’s effective recruitment of operators, is AvantgardeFM’s managed support and adherence to its company policies. Through effective director led oversight and robust management structure, policy objectives are cemented to benefit the overall service delivery. Pre-emptive risk assessments and adapted methodologies delivered through account managers offer clients a cost effective and flexible approach to managing client concerns. AvantgardeFM’s account managers, responsible for the effective process mapping of roles and responsibilities prior to deployments, form an integral guiding component throughout the process. The successful addition of cleaning services in early 2016 provided AvantgardeFM with

the opportunity to increase the service supplied to their house building clients, including sparkle cleaning and spot cleaning of site facilities. This generated opportunities to roll out cleaning services for local authorities and the university accommodation and facility sector. In conjunction with the additional cleaning services, PAT testing and reactive maintenance operatives are deployed to support and service existing clients across the construction sector. Ongoing successes have seen the company expand this feature into the local housing market for the provision of its services among local affordable housing providers. Looking forward to 2017 AvantgardeFM is well positioned to increase its current rate of expansion and overall market share. Continued recruitment of top performing individuals, the successful introduction of additional services and the company’s status as a preferred supplier among many national construction contractors will form part of an extensive base of catalysts to grow AvantgardeFM in 2017 and beyond. q

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It’s onwards and upwards for industry events

[ON 23-24 NOVEMBER Glasgow’s SECC saw the return of Scotland

Build. The return was welcomed by thousands of professionals looking to do business and boost the sector across the board. Over the two days more than 120 exhibitors successfully promoted their brands, products and services, securing a number of strong leads to enhance their position in the Scottish construction market. They also had the opportunity to meet with over 200 senior buyers from a mix of contractors, developers, architects and local authorities at the Meet the Buyer VIP luncheon. Fraser Purdie from Kingspan Insulation said: “This was our second year exhibiting at Scotland Build and we have already booked up for 2017. The Meet the Buyer format over lunch was relaxed, informal and very beneficial. Looking forward to next year’s show!” The event also saw over 60 speakers covering a range of topics, while visitors were able to benefit from up to 22 hours of CPDaccredited workshops. “Scotland Build was a brilliant conference with just the right mix of academics, contractors, suppliers and designers,” said Sarah Jane Stewart, head of sustainability at Atkins’s North Region. The show returns in November and is set to grow further with the aim of creating more business opportunities for companies in Scotland. A month earlier, on 26-27 October, London Build took its place at its new Olympia home. The only event of its kind to focus on construction opportunities in London, the show brought together more than 10,000 movers and shakers from across the capital’s construction industry. Networking opportunities were myriad – Meet the Buyer sessions, VIP lunches featuring over 800 buyers over two-days, the London Construction Awards, a Women in Construction tea morning plus much more. Greeted by an incredibly convincing and humorous Mr Bean lookalike armed with a metal detector, entertainment began from the very moment people arrived. There were robots walking around the hall, an Oktoberfest beer festival with a live oompah band, a Jimmy Carr comedy evening and much more. Over 100 high-level speakers from London’s construction industry provided first-class content that drew extremely positive feedback. It included the first presentation from Heathrow Airport – just days after the government announced it would be the site for a new runway. For next year's event organisers Oliver Kinross are working with a new network of international sales agents, who will be bringing an increased number and range of international exhibitors to London Build. q

LEGAL ISSUES

The new JCT Standard Building Contract 2016 edition: a major leap forward or minor revision? The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has now updated its Standard Building Contract. Wright Hassall legal director STUART THWAITES picks out key changes to the new 2016 Standard Building Contract (SBC). Minor changes In the Articles the CDM co-ordinator becomes ‘Principal Designer’; Article 6 no longer refers to the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations; and Article 8 contains an updated version of the Construction Industry Model Arbitration Rules. The Contract Particulars refer to a performance bond and parent company guarantee to be provided by the contractor; ‘Interim Valuation Dates’ have been introduced (more on that later); and a reference to the BIM Protocol has been added. In Conditions, the contractor must notify the employer of any discrepancy/ divergence between their Proposals and/or other contractor’s design documents, as well as notifying the employer of any discrepancy or divergence within its own Contractor’s Proposals. The BIM Protocol can also apply.

Significant changes The changed payment provisions introduce ‘Interim Valuation Dates’ (IVDs) which now apply throughout the supply chain to ensure fair payment throughout the contractual chain. The monthly payment cycle continues after practical completion up to the due date of the final payment. The procedure for assessing loss and expense has been revised in order to avoid problems where notification is made significantly after the event. The contractor must notify the employer once they know an issue relating to loss and/or expense, and which may impact on progress, has arisen. Although a failure to notify would be a breach of contract it would not automatically prevent the contractor from being entitled to time/money. The first IVD should be set out in the Contract Particulars. Subsequent IVDs will be the same date each month thereafter. If parties do not identify the first IVD, then the default date is one month after the Date of Possession. The IVDs are used to work out the due dates for payment. Interim payments are due seven days after the relevant IVD. The contractor can make a payment application at any time up to the relevant IVD although this is not compulsory. Control of the works – the contractor must confirm in writing, the terms of the architect/contract administrator’s instructions within seven days. The employer can override the contractor’s written understanding of the instruction within the seven day period but if it doesn’t, the instruction takes effect after the seven days expire. The contractor must appoint a full-time site manager, approved by the employer, to act as contractor’s agent. Injury, damage and insurance – there is now more flexibility in insuring the works and existing structures, particularly in multi-let scenarios. A helpful step forward – the new SBC can be seen as an incremental, helpful step forward. No doubt the operation of the various clauses will be examined by the courts in due course, particularly the recurring feature of construction disputes, namely payment provisions. q • Stuart Thwaites is a legal director at Wright Hassall in the firm’s construction and engineering team. He can be contacted on stuart.thwaites@wrighthassall.co.uk or 01926 884690.

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OnGarde – solar powered camera success [ONGARDE, the rapid deployment camera specialists, are happy to

announce a very successful launch of their new solar powered CCTV tower. The tower is designed specifically to protect sites and plant where there is no on-site power supply available and Mike Fleck, director of OnGarde, is not surprised by its success: “We get a lot of calls from customers where power is a real issue. It could be for a green field site where none of the long term infrastructure has been put in place or, as is often the case on extremely remote sites, where external power is just not possible,” he said. “The most notable feature of this camera is the three large solar cells built into the sides of the camera tower. These are also backed up by fuel cell technology that allows the system to operate for up to five months without the need for maintenance and refueling. “Another key feature is the use of a thermal camera which means no external lights are needed, further reducing the power required. An example of just how effective the solar camera is can be seen from a recent incident in South Wales where potential thieves were spotted and left the site after an audio warning was given.” Mike added: “As part of our customer service, OnGarde include a free site visit should there be the need to replace the fuel cells. This approach means that our clients don’t need to worry about supplying power or sending personnel to top up the fuel level in generators. This factor alone offers them a significant saving.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Are you addressing your BIM skills shortage? [NEARLY ALL BIM training courses seek

to deliver some element of BIM competence and are run in isolation. Such courses tend to be software focused, predominantly aimed at which buttons to push and in which order. Or they tend to be focused on theory and PowerPoint heavy. Now for the first time there is an alternative. Man and Machine’s BIM Ready program offers a well-constructed series of training modules, developed with construction professionals in mind, to ensure that people get the practical help they need to develop skills in a variety of BIM roles. The content and structure creates experts in BIM modelling, BIM co-ordination and BIM management. The program focuses on the job function, not the tools. The modules are of course in some cases hands-on and in other cases workshop biased, but in all cases theory is fused with technology best practice. The aim is to explain ‘why’? Why do we do things the way we do? BIM tasks, roles, responsibilities, contractual framework, cyber security, infrastructure, strategy and BIM application cases are all explored in the different modules. The thinking is explored as well as methodology, the value as well as the technology and successful BIM implementation projects are reviewed in a workshop style setting. Phil Read, managing director and leading BIM consultant at Man and Machine commented: “Training is now a critical component that needs to be considered essential to the development of the UK construction industry. In its recent report, the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) talked extensively about how the UK construction industry has not really seen much improvement in output or productivity for decades. Our program has been developed to help bring new ideas and address some of those issues.” This is not the case in manufacturing where digital prototyping, robotics, 3D

printing and automation have revolutionised the ‘design and make’ process and there is much that can be learnt from this industry. Improvements in manufacturing productivity are well-documented. The skills shortage in BIM feels like it is reaching a critical point and the recent award of £454,984 to BIM4Education by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) really underpins the concerns that are being expressed throughout the industry. With the BIM Task Group already moving on to BIM Level 3 development, UK industry continues to struggle implementing BIM Level 2. The UK BIM Alliance aims to provide leadership to realise some of the benefits of BIM Level 2 including cost and waste reductions, increased productivity and increased competitiveness. This is of course laudable, but it requires adoption and inclusion on a wide scale. In order to achieve this, design and build professionals need to be engaged and motivated to take part. The BIM Ready program from Man and Machine is a courageous step in trying to support the achievement of those aims. Phil Read also comments: “We have seen a significant need to widen the appeal of BIM training to include not just modellers

and coordinators but also BIM champions, executives, leaders, project managers, construction directors and so on. In fact, there is also a necessity to deliver BIM training throughout the supply chain to include building product manufacturers and fabricators, as the BIM process continues to go deeper and deeper into the supply chain. And if you consider that BIM is as much about information, as it is about 3D models, it is perhaps even more important.” These words of course strike a chord when you consider that the true advantages of BIM are realised across the lifecycle of the built asset. The management and the cost effectiveness of the operational running of a facility is where the value of the ‘I’ in BIM really manifests itself. This is why products such as Ecodomus, one of the most exciting BIM asset information tools available, really comes into its own. Phil Read believes that technologies like this are used to exemplify the power of BIM during their training program. We can only hope that more programs like this become more widely available and that the skill shortage is addressed so that we can really benefit from the promise of BIM here in the UK. q

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atoz construction national website

Welcome to our A to Z guide of the websites of some of the industry’s leading players. If you are one of our many online readers simply click on any of the logos listed below and you will be automatically directed to that company’s website. To get your company’s website listed on this page just give us a call on 0161 710 3880 or email ian@dmmonline.co.uk

Asta Powerproject BIM – affordable 4D planning

Cable Management Systems

Saving Time, Saving Money

Innovative Manufacturers of Adhesives, Grouts, Cements and Coatings

New & Used Portable & Modular Building Sales. • Alteration • Refurbs • Installation • Relocation

Online Tradesman Search Facility & Directory

Suppliers and Distributors of Scaffolding and Access Equipment

Construction Finance Specialists

Think Roofs, Think NFRC

High Speed 4G Wireless Broadband Routers

Working within the Construction Industry • Health & Safety Training • Roofing Training

Your partner for working safely at heights

www.astapowerproject.com/bim

www.competentroofer.co.uk

www.cotacabin.co.uk

www.scaffoldingsales.co.uk

www.nfrc.co.uk

www.nimrod-training.co.uk

www.constructionnational.co.uk

www.skyhook-gb.com

www.rotafix.co.uk

www.stockporttradesmen.com

www.ultimatefinance.co.uk

www.4grouter.co.uk

www.xsplatforms.com

Care home providers are forging ahead in challenging times [

THE ISSUE OF social care has found itself in the political spotlight in recent weeks for all the wrong reasons. Care providers have long warned of an impending crisis in the provision of care, with the National Care Association stating that “…we now face the challenge of rebuilding the social care sector not only through additional funding but clarity of the purpose of the service.” Its executive chairman Narda Ahmed OBE said in December: “The ‘care crash’, as forewarned by the National Care Association, is now a reality recognised too late by a government who has enlisted a strategic policy of under-investment. The independent care home sector cannot survive when local authority and clinical commissioning groups are reducing the funding per resident by 8%

on average, while providers endure a 7% increase in wage bills alone, year on year.” Despite that environment, there are many examples of new facilities being built that exceed expectations. In the last issue we looked at a number of new care homes being built up and down the country, all involved in care for older people. In this second feature we expand that horizon to include a number of facilities specialising in caring for younger adults with complex needs, particularly on the autistic spectrum. We also look in some detail at a contractor that has been specialising in the construction of care homes for some two decades, and offer a glimpse of the future for older residents in the South East as a major housing association expands its offering. q

Ordinary exterior belies a special environment OAK HOUSE, WEST MIDLANDS

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WHAT APPEARS FROM the outside to be just another suburban semi is in fact the scene of an extraordinary living environment for a small number of people with learning disabilities. Oak House, in the West Midlands, has undergone a complete refurbishment by dedicated providers Just Us Care Ltd to provide highquality care in a warm and comforting environment. The home has been designed and decorated to an impeccable standard to ensure maximum comfort for its service users. It features four bedrooms in quiet and relaxing local surroundings. An emphasis on the safety and security of residents is evident in the innovative approach taken with the installation of the carer call systems and fire alarm system. In addition to the well-presented upstairs bathroom, there is an adapted downstairs wet-room, also fitted with state-of-the-art fire and carer call systems. The attention paid to service users’ wellbeing even extends to the outside, with a specially adapted garden equipped with a relaxing sensory fish pond and greenhouse (pictured below). One of the first residents to move in following the refurbishment commented: “I love it here – it is so comfortable and relaxing.” q

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Award recognises home design’s ‘soul’

CAERLAN, LLANTRISANT

[A HOME IN South Wales for young adults on the autism spectrum

is setting new standards in care home design. Caerlan, in Llantrisant, is celebrating after winning the prestigious Pinder Healthcare Design Award, recognising the significant contribution it is making to the quality of life and well-being of people in its care. The Pinder Healthcare Design Awards have been running for 20 years and aim to promote and recognise the very best developments in all types of care-related property. At an awards ceremony at the Lancaster Hotel in London, attended by healthcare providers, architects and developers, the home was highlypraised for a number of its design features. The judges said: “In your category there were some amazing designs; but your service had soul and that is why you won.”

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Sarah Hughes, chief executive officer of Craegmoor, which runs the home, said: “It is important for great design to be recognised in residential care, and we have been seeking to raise the bar in this area. This recognition shows we are doing just that.” The home promotes independence, comfort, social interaction and wellbeing. It is an ‘autism friendly’ low stimulus environment. There are sensory lights installed in the en suite bathrooms and soundproofing in residents’ bedrooms which limits interruption to their private time. Accommodation in the main house includes an apartment and en suite bedroom on the ground floor. On the first floor there are two studio flats and two en suite bedrooms. Away from the main house there is also a self-contained bungalow. The main house also offers a large comfortable lounge, separate dining

Savana offers the space to thrive

room, kitchen, quiet room and conservatory. There is also a meeting area and activities room. This ‘robust’ service combines the best qualities of a local facility with the support and expertise of an established and well-respected service provider. The staff have significant expertise in supporting people with autism and are themselves supported by a dedicated positive behaviour specialist and Craegmoor’s specialist autism leads. Craegmoor is part of the Priory Group. All furniture is discreetly robust and special fixtures have been installed to ensure residents cannot harm themselves. Special taps in the bathrooms ensure that they cannot flood. Artwork is displayed around the home – most of which comprises photos of the local area – with the aim of making Caerlan a warm environment for everyone who visits. Since its opening, Caerlan has attracted considerable interest from both local service commissioners and those further afield – including from Northern Ireland and Kent – and is rapidly becoming a model for how a complex autism service should be developed. Home manager Laura Prothero declared: “We are thrilled. Everyone including staff, relatives and residents are all very proud. We are a relatively new home and it is great to see that we are establishing a great reputation already. A lot of work has been put into the home’s design to ensure residents are well looked after and have a great start to their adult life.” q

SAVANA, NORTHAMPTON

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A NEWLY-OPENED residential facility in central Northampton provides superbly finished and modern accommodation for up to 20 people across three distinct domestic-sized units. Savana is the latest addition to the Mentaur Group, a specialist care provider supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health issues and associated needs. The site had been developed and grown over many years, culminating in a unique and attractive living environment. Previously a care home for the elderly, the property has been reinvented by Mentaur, creating a more openplan and seamless living space. CEO Isabel Santos Melo said: “This is our largest new project to date and is a testament to the extent our business has grown over the past few years. The name Savana reflects openness, mirroring both the style of this new and modern home and our core values as an organisation.” No expense has been spared in the design, which uses modern, attractive and practical materials and furniture throughout. The facility has been designed to offer varied and tailored support as required by the individual residents. The first unit offers the perfect setting to support younger people seeking a more independent way of life, offering good sized bedrooms and living spaces with full en suite facilities alongside communal dining and kitchen areas. Other units on the site are designed to cater for a variety of needs, including for those with mobility issues. Free wi-fi is available throughout the property for easy internet access for all occupants. Many of the ground floor bedrooms and communal areas have direct access to a private courtyard, designed to offer a tranquil outdoor environment as required. Each kitchen is sleek and modern in design, whilst being robust to stand the test of time. The kitchens are eco-friendly and fully efficient. The design and colouring for each room has been carefully considered to ensure a welcoming and calming environment for occupants. Low arousal, neutral colourings have been used, with harsh lighting replaced by softer alternatives. A new rendered finish alongside stylish new window fittings has made the building as attractive on the outside as it is on the inside. q

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Specialist builders take care home construction to a new level TEC CONSTRUCTION

[ ONE OF THE UK’s leading specialist care

home builders is TEC Construction. Based in the South East of England, TEC carries out healthcare projects ranging from £3m to £8m in value. The company was established in 1993 by family members Terry and Robert Cracknell, with the aim of providing commercial quality construction for the domestic sector. Drawing on Terry’s structural engineering background and experience of delivering multimillionpound design and build projects and Robert’s hands-on skills, TEC were soon carrying out a range of high-end domestic projects – from simple extensions to full blown renovations. Their reputation soon spread and it wasn’t long before they found themselves working with architects on much larger commercial projects, the first of which was a series of renovations for a property developer in South London which involved converting old Victorian houses into flats. During that time, TEC also secured a project to renovate an old working men’s club in Kingston, converting it into a day nursery for London nursery chain Dolphin. Dolphin’s former managing director Martin Pace commented: “I worked with TEC in my role at Dolphin Nurseries between 2001 and 2004, when they were involved in four of our nursery construction projects. It was refreshing to work with a main contractor that genuinely cared about quality. Their attention to detail and commitment to delivering a well- priced job, on time and on budget meant that they were our preferred partner for new build nursery projects and conversions.” It was from feedback and referrals like this that the company’s relationship with care home operators was born.

A groundworker’s dream Among the projects currently in train is a new 70-bed care home in Carshalton, Surrey, for the prestigious operator Porthaven. The two story building is of traditional build, with the lower ground floor constructed into a hillside. With over 7,000m3 of earth removed, Work is well underway the project has proved to be a groundworker’s dream. Business director David Cracknell said: “It is important for us to provide all our clients, however big, with the same care and attention as we always have and this project is no different. We are very happy to have won this project and look forward to building many more for Porthaven.” Carshalton Care Home is due to open in the summer and will provide 24-hour residential, nursing, dementia and respite care for the elderly in an elegant and spacious home.

on the Carshalton development which is due to open in the summer

Challenging project Last year TEC Construction completed a number of projects. That included Cedar View – a new facility on the outskirts of Croydon for LRH Homes. The project consisted of designing and building the 65-bedroom home that is capable of offering the very highest level of care to elderly people. The four story building, which includes a basement, offers a cinema, hair salon, sweet shop and children’s play area. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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The 65-bedroom Cedar View Care Centre is capable of offering the very highest level of care Managing director Terry Cracknell commented: “This was a hugely challenging project that pushed us to our limits, with intricate details to replicate the old building that was located on the site; but as always we are very happy with the final result and consider this building one of our best.”

Specialist facilities Last year also saw the completion of a purpose-built 46-bedroom home, specially designed for elderly Asian residents who require

full-time care. Sairam Villa in Harrow boasts a number of ‘amazing’ features, such as a holistic treatment room, prayer room, cinema and underground parking. The four-story building, including basement, is also now home to the operator’s head office. Robert Cracknell enthused: “This project was one of my most favourite to work on. The design and client team worked very well together and, even with the client deciding to change the complete interior design scheme at the last minute, we still produced a beautiful home and the quality of finish is outstanding.”

Sairam Villa boasts a number of ‘amazing’ features www.constructionnational.co.uk

Work is also well underway at Heathﬁeld Court which will be owned and operated by Carebase Limited

A valued client Another project currently underway is for Heathfield Court at Northumberland Heath in Kent. The building will be owned and operated by Carebase Limited and promises to be an outstanding residence for local people with full time care requirements. The building is over four storeys, with a basement housing all of the backof-house services, including kitchen and laundry. A traditional brick

and block build superstructure culminates in a mansard roof, utilising every inch the building has to offer. Heathfield Court is due to open this year and will offer high-quality residential, nursing and dementia care that is focused on improving wellbeing and overall quality of life. Features will include a ground floor brasserie and elegant lounges on every floor. It will be surrounded by a beautiful landscaped garden

Offering a window on a home’s world [

ONE OF THE many specialist companies to be found working alongside TEC Construction is Dotcom Glazing Ltd of Leicester. Established in 1999, Dotcom Glazing Ltd supply and install a comprehensive range of architectural aluminium glazing products, which include windows, doors, entrance screens, curtain walling, brise soleil, fire-rated screens and doors, balustrades and security roller shutters. They have recently completed the glazing facades on several nursing homes for TEC Construction, including a newly-finished home in Folkestone. Commenting on the relationship between the two companies, senior executive Terry George said: “Dotcom Glazing is a highly-specialised architectural glazing company, acknowledged for its work standards and commitment. We have the infrastructure and knowledge to carry out major glazing contracts for highly-respected clients such as TEC Construction. “We find TEC Construction a very progressive and professional organisation, which suits Dotcom’s work principles; they are precisely the type of company we enjoy working with.” The company offers a supply-and-installation service throughout the UK for many major contractors and developers, supported by a highly-trained technical team who often interact with specifiers during the early stages of design

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by offering advice as to which product systems would best suit their particular requirements. Other notable contracts undertaken by Dotcom Glazing include a series of new Premier Inn hotels for major contractors, the Newark Academy for a major blue chip company and the Lanchester Community Building in Hertfordshire for yet another highly-respected contractor. Dotcom’s current order book also includes several Network Rail refurbishment projects, Local Authority and Academy buildings in the Education sector and projects for NHS Trusts. They are also

undertaking a selection of impressive independent glazing contracts – including apartment building – throughout the UK, in locations as diverse as London, Bristol, Reading, Manchester, Shepton Mallet and East Anglia. Said Terry George: “Hopefully, by giving our valued clients a feeling of confidence in our performance and by offering them very competitive prices for a high-quality product, which comfortably meets their specification criteria at all times, they will be encouraged to continue trusting us with their future business.” q

How the completed Heathﬁeld Court will look (above and below) with a courtyard, summer house and areas to grow plants and vegetables. All residents will enjoy direct access to the garden. TEC have completed a number of projects for Carebase, including Water Mill House in Hemel Hempstead. Terry Cracknell commented: “Carebase are a very important client and as such we take a huge amount of care in delivering the best building possible for them to look after and care for local residents.” TECs’ desire and ability to work closely with architects and their clients means they deliver the project on time and on budget every time. Said Terry Cracknell: “As main contractors we are always being squeezed on pricing, so we are constantly looking at ways to bring projects in on budget, by researching and using new products and techniques.”

development manager David Cracknell said: “We have never chased work, it has always found us; but with an ever-increasing client list and a desire to build a solid company and legacy, we are looking at the big contractors and thinking: we can do it better than them.” It is that kind of ambition, together with years of experience and a desire to constantly improve quality and service, that are the contributing factors in TEC Construction’s success. q

Giving something back On every project TEC look to put something back into the local community – things like design competitions for site hoarding by local schools, donating equipment for childrens’ respite care, supporting local volunteer run football clubs, careers in construction days for schools. “Our community projects allow us to make small differences in the local areas, giving those who might not feel the benefit of our developments the support and help they need to do great work in their communities,” said Robert Cracknell. When asked about the future growth of the company, business

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Housing group expands to provide luxury care in the South East

BAYCROFT, GRAYS FARM ROAD

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A WIDE RANGE of specialist care for elderly residents will be on offer at a new home currently under construction at Grays Farm Road in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley. The luxury home by new provider Baycroft is due to open its doors in August 2017. Residents will be able to rely on 24-hour personalised care tailored to their individual requirements and help to ensure their move is as seamless as possible. In addition to nursing and dementia care, the home will provide respite care and specialist care for conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke rehabilitation and intermediate ‘re-ablement’ for those not quite able to return home following a stay in hospital. The three-story building is of traditional masonry construction, with concrete plank floors and a traditional tiled roof. The roof provides some of the living space and contains a number of attractive dormers. The home is set back from the road and will enjoy extensive external amenity space, including extensive gardens, car parking and terraces. The whole structure has been intentionally designed with a traditional domestic appearance, offering a ‘homely’ feel.

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The 75 residents will enjoy varying levels of accommodation, from premium rooms to suites. All will have wet-room-style bathrooms, while the ground floor rooms will each have their own outdoor space. The facility offers a generous 52m2 of accommodation per resident. The interior of each room will be finished to a luxury standard, with the comfort and individual needs of each resident taken into consideration. The communal spaces will provide a wealth of facilities, including a well-stocked library, cinema, hair salon, treatment room and gym. Residents will also be able enjoy refreshments in the café or relax in a number of lounges with outdoor terraces. And the gardens are not only there to be looked at; those with green fingers can get involved. Even visitors are amply catered for – younger visitors can be entertained under supervision in the kids’ entertainment room, equipped with state-of-the-art play equipment. The home at Orpington will form part of the Baycroft Group, a brand set up by London-based One Housing – one of the UK’s largest housing associations. With over 50 years experience of managing 15,000 homes in the South East, One Housing is London’s largest provider of support services to people with complex needs. The establishment of Baycroft allows the group to fulfil its vision

of moving beyond building and selling residential homes on the open market into the direct provision of private care. The profits generated by Baycroft are invested back into the group’s core housing, care and support services. q The computer generated images are subject to change

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Brown & Carroll polishes up its project planning with Asta Powerproject Enterprise

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SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR Brown & Carroll has been managing major commercial fit-out projects with high-quality specialist joinery for many years. It prides itself in being a ‘no fail’ business which always delivers, to the most exacting customer needs. The reputation of the business rests not just on the quality of its work, but its perfect delivery record. The company has not missed a handover for an enviable 25 years. Maintaining that reputation is business crucial – which puts project planning excellence firmly in the strategic spotlight. Planner Matthew Kingston carries a lot of responsibility for sustaining the company’s delivery record. One of the tools he relies on most is Asta Powerproject, to help make projects manageable in terms of planning timelines and resources alike. Matthew said: “We use Asta Powerproject to undertake full programme detailing for design, manufacturing and installation, as well as progress reporting against all these activities, and resource planning.”

uniquely, and with the highest possible design values. Balancing design with delivery practicality is a constant challenge. Using Asta Powerproject Matthew works to create re-usable processes that can adapt to its wide variety of typical projects. He said: “We have a number of typical sequences we undertake, and have to adapt them to suit each item. There is no typical programme: everything is built specifically. There are different details, some are more complex, others are quite simple like fitted kitchens. A tea point can be anything from a simple unit, up to a full specialist finish on everything inside and outside the units, Corian worktops, glass elements and so on.”

Last but never least

Bringing ideas to life

While every trade in the construction business understands the pressures of deadlines, the Brown & Carroll team is at the sharp end on almost every occasion. Matthew expanded on this: “Our biggest challenge is that we are a finishing trade. We’re often the last guys in before handover to the client. So we are super-constrained in terms of the end date. If a preceding activity is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, then it impacts on us and there may not be an opportunity to recover that delay by extending the handover date. The way we have to achieve this would be to accelerate our works, so being able to see this on the programme software enables us to manage this across all our works and prioritise activities.” Being the last trade, the Brown & Carroll team is used to being in the firing line, and has long since recognised that it needs clear information to inform internal discussions, and strong evidence to present to clients, especially if handover is impacted by a change. Matthew described the process: “We build our sequences in Asta Powerproject, then do a progress dropline with comments against it. If we’ve finished the designs and issued them to the architects, but the line shows we should have had drawings back, our contract managers can see that the impact will be a delay of two weeks. The software helps us to raise early warning flags and is a good tool for communication: we can go into a meeting and demonstrate the delay, by showing the dropline and the implications.” q

Brown & Carroll’s specialism is taking client ideas and bringing them alive. While some of its jobs seem superficially similar, each is approached

• For further information visit the website at www.astapowerproject.com.

Expanding requirements Brown & Carroll is going from strength to strength, now approaching £50m annual turnover, with constant growth and big plans for the future. It has recently expanded into the heritage, luxury residential, hotel and restaurant space. Consequently, its need for project management is expanding too, as it must drive and monitor progress on multiple, often multi-million pound, contracts. To manage the growing workload, they recently converted to the Enterprise version of Asta Powerproject and are building separate programmes within it. “This enables us to assign resources effectively. It means we can now have an overview of all our projects at one time,” Matthew explained. Activities are diverse, time-consuming, and need careful end-to-end project management. Delivery timeframes vary hugely. Brown & Carroll often design and develop very specialist items, which may often take several months to move from design and approval, through ordering and manufacture, and then to installation.

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CIOB launches its own Academy [IN DECEMBER THE Chartered Institute

of Building (CIOB) launched its new Academy, developed by the industry for the industry. The CIOB Academy is open to anyone working in the built environment. It has been created in consultation with industry partners to meet the needs of an industry that is undergoing unprecedented technological change while embracing new challenges. The head of the Academy, Holly Walton, said: “Targeted training has an enormous impact on businesses, saving time and money and empowering employees. The Academy will set a new benchmark in training standards. It has been created in response to strong demand from CIOB members who are looking for a consistent quality offering from a brand that they can trust. “We’ve been working closely with our industry

partners to create relevant and practical course content that tracks the latest industry developments. All our courses will be delivered by experienced professionals who understand

ICE extends membership to non-engineers [

THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (ICE) has launched an associate member grade to include professionals who are not civil engineers. The move follows overwhelming support by members to open up membership to a wider group of built environment professionals. As the ICE points out, modern engineering teams such as those working on the Crossrail project include a diverse range of professionals, including civil engineers, architects, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, environmentalists and health and safety experts. The AMICE grade is aimed at bringing those allied professionals into ICE’s membership, where they will be able to benefit from a huge range of resources, including knowledge, networking and thought leadership. The institution and its existing members will also benefit from this influx of skills, talent and knowledge, helping to shape their thinking and offering a broader, more holistic view on the global engineering challenges of today. Associate membership offers access to vast knowledge resources, including those at its iconic home at One Great George Street, and the right to the post nominal AMICE. It also delivers greater understanding of the professionals who the associate members work alongside, access to curated training and the opportunity to exchange knowledge and contacts with industry influencers. q

what it takes to get the job done. Over the next few months, we’ll also be reaching out to our global membership with online offerings and some free CPD sessions.” Courses, including digital construction, building conservation and accident investigation, are led by professionals with indepth industry experience. Each syllabus, tested against expert focus groups, provides practical and relevant learning for specific job roles. As well as technically-led subjects, the CIOB Academy is helping construction professionals increase their personal effectiveness in areas such as contract negotiation, report writing, project planning and contract management. Two routes to becoming chartered – a Construction Conversion course for graduates with non-construction backgrounds, and the Chartered Membership Programme that helps those with industry experience achieve degree level recognition – will also be supported through the Academy. As part of CIOB’s commitment to raising global standards in the built environment sector, the Academy will be launching free online CPD sessions in the coming months, including a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Ethics and Compliance. q

Employer sponsorship helps dad-of-three to degree [ A SUCCESS STORY in the relationship between academe and the building industry was

reported in local press in the East Midlands, when a father-of-three from Nottinghamshire was awarded a foundation degree in Residential Development and Construction with the support of Barratt Homes’s sponsored degree programme for its site management staff. Steve Hallam (pictured) spent three years training onsite at various Barratt Homes developments while studying – appropriately – at Sheffield Hallam University. Halfway through his course he was promoted to assistant site manager and is aiming to become a site manager in the near future. Said Steve: “It’s brilliant that Barratt Homes gives people like me these opportunities because I would have never dreamt of being in construction management before and now I’ve managed to get a degree in construction thanks to their funding and constant support.” q

www.constructionnational.co.uk

How do we stop the growing skills shortages? By MATT SIMMONS, Construction Lead, City & Guilds

[

SKILLS SHORTAGES IN the UK construction industry are well documented – they have been around for many years and they aren’t likely to go away any time soon. Putting it into context – one fifth of all vacancies in the sector are reported to be hard to fill by Britain’s construction companies, with many saying that they struggle to recruit staff with the right skills, qualifications or experience. This situation is only likely to get worse in the coming years when you factor in the high expected retirement rate of construction workers, which is set to increase as 22% of the current workforce is over 50 and 15% are in their 60s – and of course that’s before we factor in the as yet unknown impact of Brexit. As we all know, construction is a sector of major significance to the UK economy, generating almost £90 billion annually (6.7% of GDP) and employing in excess of 2.93 million people. This is the equivalent of about 10% of UK employment, so the skills gap is a major worry. Sajid Javid MP, Communities and Local Government Secretary, recently stated that ‘it’s time to start building’ so there is political backing for the UK’s house-building industry not to mention the huge planned infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the third runway at Heathrow – but that’s meaningless if there aren’t skilled people there to make it happen.

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The UK leaving the EU could also potentially have a huge impact on recruitment in the construction industry. Some areas of the sector are already reliant on workers from overseas and if it becomes difficult for companies to hire from the EU, it will clearly become even harder to fill these vacancies. As we get closer to Brexit, it will fall on the sector to become more self-sufficient and recruit and train home-grown talent. All of this means we desperately need an apprenticeship system that works for employers and supplies a steady stream of keen, talented individuals to meet the needs of the industry. Simple, in theory. But quite often a lot more difficult in practice. Firstly, weak careers advice in schools with limited access to employers means that a poor image of construction as being a second class option among potential young employees often goes unchallenged. This has a detrimental effect on the ability of construction businesses to recruit and retain people with the right type of skills. To demonstrate the extent of the problem here, data shows that the overall appeal of the construction industry as a career option for young people is low, scoring 4.2 out of 10 among 14 to 19 year olds. Meanwhile, our own research Great Expectations, which surveyed almost 3,500 young people, showed that 14-19 year olds simply aren’t aware of many of the available career options within the construction industry and that they don’t get to experience the possible job opportunities in these areas through work experience or meeting employers in the industry. A huge problem, as how can a young person be expected to choose a job that they don’t even know exists? There are some good initiatives such as ‘Step In, Step Up’ from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) – a project designed to show 16-18 year old college students the range of careers offered in construction. But it’s going to take political will to improve careers advice and a sea-change in how construction is portrayed to young people to really have an impact. The message we need give is that a career in construction is not all hard-hats and manual labour – it is so much more than that. Equally, it’s that apprenticeships are not the poor relation to a university degree, but a route into fulfilling careers – in construction and a range of other sectors. Only then can we be sure we are tackling skills shortages in the long term. So clearly we have to reach out to young people, but that is only half of the problem. Although the construction sector is better than many, there is still often a poor perception among employers towards apprenticeships that needs to be tackled. Currently just under a quarter of construction employers employ apprentices – a figure which has risen from 14% since 2014 but could still be improved upon. It is against this background that City & Guilds and the Crossindustry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) recently joined forces to bring a new approach to apprenticeships in the UK construction industry. The aim of the partnership is to ensure that the sector has the skilled people it needs both now and in the future. The collaboration comes at a crucial time for the construction industry. Not only in the context of Brexit, but also because of the

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Activate Learning

T: 0800 612 6008 E: enquiries@activatelearning.ac.uk W: www.activatelearning.ac.uk Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1SA

Barking & Dagenham College T: 020 3667 0294 E: admissions@bdc.ac.uk W: www.bdc.ac.uk

Rush Green Campus, Dagenham Road, Romford RM7 0XU

Basingstoke College of Technology launch of the new apprenticeship levy in April this year. The levy will mean that any organisation with an annual pay bill of over £3m will be paying 0.5% of that amount to a central pot which they can then draw down funds from (with a top up from Government). This will be a pretty sizeable sum for some organisations totalling millions of pounds annually. To ensure that they get the best value out of their investment it’s vital that organisations engage with the new system and understand how it works. That they understand what they can spend their levy funds on as well as fully preparing their own organisations – from altering recruitment practices through to forming a partnership with a new training provider or hiring or training staff to manage apprentices in-house. At City & Guilds we are supporting the UK construction industry by putting our money where our mouth is. The alliance with CCATF will build on the great work they are already doing to develop and promote apprenticeships and drive up standards in the sector over the coming years, boosting their efforts to build the world class construction workforce of tomorrow. The alliance will also deliver support for major contractors and SMEs across a range of areas such as supply chain intervention, pathway to construction and one-to-one engagement, as well as regular, quality updates, information, advice and guidance. Together we will be providing co-ordinated support which should offer more certainty and reassurance to stabilise future apprenticeship commitments. We believe that this initiative will help to encourage greater take up of apprenticeships among employers in the UK and provide employers with much needed skilled resource. There’s still far more to do, of course, but we are excited about the challenge of working with the sector to promote the huge benefits of apprenticeships both for employers and individuals and to help the sector to realise its full potential in the coming years. I hope we can look back in five years with pride and see a sector that is self-sufficient and has a skilled workforce that is the envy of the rest of the world. q

T: 01256 354141 E: information@bcot.ac.uk W: www.bcot.ac.uk

Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 8TN

Bath College

T: 01225 328729 E: apprenticeships@bathcollege.ac.uk W: www.bathcollege.ac.uk City Centre Campus, Avon Street, Bath BA1 1UP

Central Bedfordshire College T: 01582 477776 E: enquiries@centralbeds.ac.uk W: www.centralbeds.ac.uk

Main Campus, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU5 4HG

Blackpool and The Fylde College T: 01253 504 343 E: info@blackpool.ac.uk W: www.blackpool.ac.uk

Bispham Campus, Ashfield Road, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 0HB

Bolton College

T: 01204 482000 E: info@boltoncc.ac.uk W: www.boltoncollege.ac.uk Deane Road Campus, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5BG

Boston College

T: 01205 313218 E: info@boston.ac.uk W: www.boston.ac.uk Skirbeck Road, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 6JF

Business Solutions Bury College

T: 0161 280 8650 E: business.solutions@burycollege.ac.uk W: www.burycollege.ac.uk Enterprise Centre, Market Street, Bury BL9 0DS

Cambridge Regional College T: 01223 418778 E: training@camre.ac.uk W: www.camre.ac.uk

Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge CB4 2QT

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Apprentices shine in SkillBuild final

[IN NOVEMBER the SkillBuild final

hailed the top apprentices in 10 construction categories. SkillBuild was part of the Skills Show at Birmingham’s NEC and saw more than 80 construction apprentices battle it out in their chosen trade, with skills such as bricklaying, wall and floor tiling and painting and decorating all being put to the test.

CITB funding reaches £2m milestone [THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD (CITB) has published figures

showing that nearly £2m in funding was given to small, medium and micro-sized construction firms over the last 12 months to December. A total of 442 SMEs across the country successfully applied for £1.9m in funding, with an increasing number of firms from Scotland and Wales. The CITB’s Skills and Training Fund awards grants of up to £5,000 for levy payers with fewer than 50 employees, to provide skills and training to their workforce. Over 1,000 construction workers have received training through the fund. An example of a company that has benefitted from CITB funding is Horizon Civil Engineering Ltd – a well-established SME based in South Wales. The firm is set to receive £5,000 to upskill its staff to complete two new business activities. Senior manager Jere Burridge said: “At Horizon we pride ourselves on quality, health and safety and sustainability. We recently introduced two new activities to grow the business – developing commercial industrial units and installing digital signs. We therefore need to upskill our existing workforce so we have the skills required to complete these activities, and we will be using the funding from CITB to do so.” Geeta Nathan, head of economic analysis at CITB, commented: “Small, medium and microsized businesses make up a huge proportion of the construction industry and it’s vital that we support their training and skills needs. It’s so great to see so many firms successfully applying for the Skills and Training Fund and I’d encourage every levy-paying SME to do the same.” The next opportunity to apply for the Skills and Training Fund will open on 7 February. q

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The 10 winning apprentices now have a chance to compete at this year’s WorldSkills final in Abu Dhabi. Carl Rhymer, customer engagement director at CITB, which organises SkillBuild, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s SkillBuild winners. SkillBuild 2016 has showcased the immense talent coming into the construction sector, and all the competitors should be proud of their achievements. “The standard that’s been shown over the final was hugely impressive. I’m certain these competitors will inspire more young people to consider a career in construction.” The competition has taken place for over 40 years and was supported in 2016 by Crown Paints, British Gypsum, STIHL, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Tile Association and the Stone Federation. It aims to find the most highly skilled young apprentices in their chosen trade. The winners were: • Bricklaying – Jemuel Chamos from • Newtownards, NI (pictured above) • Cabinet Making – Chris Clarke from • Chichester • Carpentry – William Campbell from • Dromore, NI • Drywall Systems – Jack Sydall from • Sheffield • Joinery – Liam Martin from Bristol • Plastering – Ameha Shewaye Bantiwered • from Leeds • Painting and Decorating – Ayla Foulis from • Dunfermline (pictured top left) • Rooﬁng – William Emerton from Cheshire • Stonemasonry – Gregor Alcorn from Elgin • Wall and Floor Tiling – Gordon Cook from • Glasgow (pictured bottom left). q

Further development of CPCS on the cards [ CONSTRUCTION PLANT COMPETENCE SCHEME (CPCS) has

announced plans for reviewing and updating the scheme this year. CPCS provides a registration card scheme for those involved in plant operations by recognising skills, knowledge and understanding, competence and qualifications. Since being launched in 2003 the scheme has been continually improved and developed to meet the changing needs of the industry. A number of key areas have been recognised for development. They include reviewing the Telescopic Handler, 360 Slew and Forward Tipping Dumper categories. The creation of a new digital logbook option will make renewing via the logbook route easier and more robust. Additional support for validators will equip them to perform at consistently high standards. In addition, renewal tests are currently being developed and will be in place during the first half of this year. Following positive feedback on the How to Renew by Logbook video, further video guides will be published. The scheme website will be reviewed to make it more user-friendly and new pocket guide versions of the scheme booklets will be introduced. CPCS will also be continuing its focus on tackling fraud through

Following positive feedback on the ‘How to Renew by Logbook’ video, further video guides will be published increased monitoring and better use of data and technology. In a statement, CITB said: “CITB will continue to ensure CPCS remains the plant competency scheme for the industry. Conversations with industry on the long term direction of the scheme will also continue in 2017 but these will in no way delay scheme development plans and ongoing customer support.” q

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Croydon College

T: 020 8686 5700 E: info@croydon.ac.uk W: www.croydon.ac.uk

Upskill your workforce with Higher Education and meet the Government’s skills’ agenda Find out more at: http://www.liv-coll.ac.uk/Building-Services--a91.html

College Road, Croydon CR9 1DX

College information: 0151 252 3000

Derby College Apprenticeships

Lowestoft College

The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby, Derbyshire DE24 8JE

St. Peter’s Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2NB

Eastleigh College

The Manchester College

Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 5FS

Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2WH

Hertford Regional College

Wakefield College

Broxbourne Campus, Turnford, Herts EN10 6AE

Wakefield City Campus, Margaret Street, Wakefield WF1 2DH

Kendal College

North Warwickshire & Hinckley College

Milnthorpe Road, Kendal LA9 5AY

Nuneaton Campus, Hinckley Road, Nuneaton CV11 6BH

Leeds College of Building

City of Wolverhampton College

North Street, Leeds LS2 7QT

Paget Road, Wolverhampton WV6 0DU

T: 01332 387421 E: apprenticeships@derby-college.ac.uk W: www.derby-college.ac.uk

T: 023 8091 1000 E: goplaces@eastleigh.ac.uk W: www.eastleigh.ac.uk

T: 01992 411400 E: info@hrc.ac.uk W: www.hrc.ac.uk

T: 01539 814700 E: enquiries@kendal.ac.uk W: www.kendal.ac.uk

T: 0113 222 6061 E: info@lcb.ac.uk W: www.lcb.ac.uk/higher-education

T: 01502 525151 E: apprenticeships@lowestoft.ac.uk W: www.lowestoft.ac.uk

T: 03333 222 444 E: enquiries@tmc.ac.uk W: www.tmc.ac.uk

T: 01924 789789 E: apprenticeships@wakefield.ac.uk E: s.black@wakefield.ac.uk W: www.wakefield.ac.uk

T: 024 7624 3000 E: the.college@nwhc.ac.uk W: www.nwhc.ac.uk

T: 01902 836000 E: mail@wolvcoll.ac.uk W: www.wolvcoll.ac.uk

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New arrivals the spur to zoo building projects [IN THIS second special feature on developments at zoos around the

country, we look at some of the less conventional, often privately-owned zoos. The building work featured is more likely to be in order to accommodate newly-arrived species – often as part of a European breeding programme. And 2016 seems to have been the Year of the Tiger, with new enclosures

at Hamerton in Cambridgeshire and Dartmoor complemented by a new home for their cousins the snow leopards at Howletts. In addtion, there are sea lions in East Anglia and a tropical world in Yorkshire. Also in Yorkshire, Flamingo Land is undergoing major refurbishments in the zoo and elsewhere at the resort. q

Work carries on apace on new sea lion habitat in Norfolk

SEA LION MARINE ENVIRONMENT - BANHAM ZOO

[IN AUGUST work began on a new sea

lion enclosure at Banham Zoo in Norfolk. The £450,000 project has been several years in the planning and will create an aquatic habitat for Californian sea lions, as well as allowing the zoo to raise awareness about the plight of the world’s seas and oceans. As the diggers moved in to break ground, Martin Goymour – CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), which owns and runs the zoo – told local press: “Banham Zoo has a long history of working with sea lions to raise awareness of critical conservation and

environmental issues facing our planet. This new enclosure will create a salt-water habitat for Californian sea lions, opening in summer 2017. “For ZSEA this is a big financial undertaking. We welcome any offers of financial support towards the project, from business sponsorship of the enclosure to small one-off gifts. I certainly hope that this project will help inspire the next generation of animals lovers to do all that they can to protect our world’s wildlife.” Writing in the ZSEA’s autumn newsletter, Mr Goymour said: “All being well this will be completed in 2017 – ideally by late spring or early summer. I have been caught out on several occasions when stating a firm date by which a project will be complete and animals ensconced in their new home, and now play safe. So far we have a very large hole in the ground. The old seal pool has all but gone; the concrete from the old pool has been ground up and re-used as the base for the new project – nothing wasted here!”

At the time a forest of re-enforcing steelwork had been put in place and the concrete base was being poured. Thereafter, the sides of the deep pool had their reinforcing steel put in place and a further concrete pour carried out. Mr Goymour continued: “The filtration system for the pool is similarly extensive and complex – and expensive – but we want only the best for the animals in our care. Currently design work is in progress for a large canopy to go over part of the pool to ensure that the sea lions have sufficient respite from the summer’s sun.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

Nautilus turnkey projects: embracing new technology

[NAUTILUS ATTRACTION DEVELOPMENTS take great pride in offering

a unique ‘turnkey’ service drawing on years of extensive experience in their highly specialised field. Zoo and aquarium exhibits have been their core focus since the company’s inception over 18 years ago. As a result of this high level of expertise a unique, innovative and creative company has been able to continue to grow and flourish. Nautilus recently expanded the possibilities of project design even further by embracing virtual reality (VR) technology enabling clients to virtually experience their planned projects before they’ve even been built! “For the first time clients can now accurately visualise exactly how the space feels and really immerse themselves in their projects,” said Nautilus’ Paul Bullimore. “Working in partnership with Dead Walk Designs we have put together a very strong design team with extensive experience in this specialist field. This is a vital step in ensuring that designs and the finished product are exactly what the client is expecting.” Clients are given VR hardware and software at the beginning of the design process so they can view and give feedback as the design process progresses. This ensures all keeper and animal requirements are carefully focussed on as a priority throughout the design process and that the project designs can be clearly communicated to their investors or sponsors. Gordon Campbell, Tropical House project advisor at Marwell Zoo, said:

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“We used the virtual reality presentation to show our board of trustees what they can look forward to next year when our Tropical House is complete. Their enthusiasm was evident as they were able to see the space complete with animal exhibits and plants in a way which can’t be demonstrated in two dimensions. “For the zoo team who are familiar with the project we use it regularly to work out design solutions for those challenging spaces which are very hard to imagine. The potential is very exciting,” he added. Over many years of designing and building zoo and aquarium projects, Nautilus have continued to develop their extensive in-house skills. The team have unsurpassed levels of experience in not only designing and building zoo and aquarium projects, but also operating them – setting them apart from other companies in the industry. It is this operational experience that has enabled unique support to clients in designing and building a range of world class exhibits. Through careful selection of key individuals the company has developed over the years to become a ‘one stop shop’ offering turnkey projects. This comprehensive approach makes projects a lot less stressful for clients whilst offering far better value for money and a high quality product. As a result of consecutive years of steady, controlled growth Nautilus are extremely proud to be helping a range of major zoo and aquarium clients to realise their ambitious projects. Recent and current clients include Marwell Zoo, Chester Zoo, Banham Zoo, Zurich Zoo, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth. Clients come to Nautilus for a number of services such as theming, life support system design and installation, tank and pool design and construction as well as, increasingly, creative design services. There has been a major shift in the style of immersive, themed exhibits over recent years enabling the team to really push their design approach. Nautilus continue to relish the challenge of creating truly unique concept designs for their valued clients. q

New pad has leopards purring SNOW LEOPARD ENCLOSURE - HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK

[VISITORS TO Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent can now see

the snow leopards Ziva and Nuri in a new light as they explore their spacious new home. The 1,200 sq m enclosure has undergone extensive refurbishment and now offers the perfect ‘pad’ for the snow leopard pair.

Tropical improvements continue in Leeds

Animal director Neil Spooner said: “We’ve been working hard to make this the perfect environment for our beautiful snow leopards, although there is still some planting and finishing off to do. Ziva and Nuri have already been spotted relaxing on the platforms and exploring the rocks.” The open-fronted and open-top enclosure offers visitors great views of the leopards, as there is minimal mesh fencing. That allows keen photographers to capture images of the pair in a natural-looking habitat. Neil added: “Snow leopards are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful big cats in the world. Sadly, they are endangered in the wild as hunting for their stunning coats, together with destruction of their habitat and conflict with humans, has decreased their numbers dramatically. “Howletts is part of a European breeding programme designed to boost the numbers of this species and we certainly hope that Ziva and Nuri’s new home will herald the patter of tiny paws in the future.” q

TROPICAL WORLD - ROUNDHAY PARK

[PART OF THE extensive Roundhay Park facility in Leeds is Tropical

World. It was opened in 1984 and named The Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Tropical World, after its local patrons. It has been introducing young people to the wonders of tropical fauna and flora ever since. A major redevelopment programme is currently underway, including transforming the existing Creature Corner into an upper Aztec temple to complement the revamped aquarium. Improvements to the waterfall area will lead to an increase in the number of exhibits, while enabling visitors to get closer to the animals. This phase of the revamp is due for completion in February. Further plans include a revamp of the Butterfly House and remodelling work on the Rainforest House, Desert House and Nocturnal Zone. The new phase of development follows a £1.5m development project between 2013 and 2015, which saw the addition of a crocodile enclosure and viewing bridge in the first phase, followed by an aquarium and frog enclosure. q

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Black rhinos and rainbow lorikeets add more colour to Flamingo Land

FLAMINGO LAND

[FLAMINGO LAND in North Yorkshire is an unusual setting for a zoo in

that it forms part of a theme park with on-site accommodation. Part of the Hoseasons group of resorts, the zoo forms a centrepiece of the site and has recently undergone a number of developments. In September a walk-through aviary was opened for its newly-arrived rainbow lorikeets. Visitors to the aviary can walk around them while feeding them from a nectar pot. The rainbow lorikeet is a brightly-coloured species of parrot native to the eastern seaboard of Australia. Its habitat is rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas. A further development at the zoo has been the Selous Black Rhino Reserve. It represents significant habitat research by the zoo team and a £1.6m investment by Flamingo Land. It features an extensive, naturally sympathetic, multi-terrain environment, a giant, centrally-heated rhino house and a high-level public access platform, allowing visitors to enjoy great views both inside and out. The black rhino is one of the five species of rhino – and despite its name is usually grey or brown. September saw the arrival of a third black rhino, a female named Chanua. She joined Samira and Olmoti, the mother and baby already in residence. Accommodation at the resort has also been upgraded. The latest addition is the Gate House (inset bottom), a unique property that adds a further dimension to the resort’s range of accommodation. Located next to a picturesque 15thcentury church, the property benefits from extensive gardens, twin lawns, patio and hot tub, as well as a lavishly-decorated interior. Total renovation was completed in time for the 2016 season, allowing the Gate House to join Riverside Cottages (above) – the farm cottages that have recently been lovingly renovated and furnished to the highest standards – as part of the resort’s Signature Collection. Complementing the zoo and the luxurious accommodation

are all the entertainments expected from a resort like Flamingo Land. At the start of last summer it launched a new attraction, The Pirates of Zanzibar – a live performance set on a specially constructed ‘pirate ship’. 2016 also saw the completion of the second phase of the Splash Zone leisure complex for resident guests. q

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TIGER RIDGE - DARTMOOR ZOO

Businesses help out the man who bought a zoo [ THERE HAVE BEEN a number of instances where films and TV

series have followed the exploits of zoologists who have founded zoos – Gerald Durrell being perhaps the most well-known – but there can only have been one Hollywood blockbuster where the zoo itself and its owner are the stars.

Such is the case with the 2012 film We Bought a Zoo, based – albeit loosely – on the autobiography of Benjamin Mee, who 10 years ago last year bought a run-down house on Dartmoor that had a menagerie of wild animals in its grounds. That menagerie, which at the time did not even have a licence, has become the hugely successful Dartmoor Zoological Park (DZP). The story of the ensuing decade, which was punctuated by tragedy in the form of the death of Benjamin’s wife soon after they bought the zoo, is one of struggle against adversity. A striking feature of Dartmoor Zoo, however, is the extent to which local people and businesses have supported the venture. That support was demonstrated in a very practical manner over the summer with the construction of the new Tiger Ridge habitat in preparation for the arrival of two young tigers from Berlin Zoo. The tiger enclosure had had a temporary house for a number of years, initially housing a solitary tiger and then a second, named Jasiri. The new project involved the building of a link pen between Tiger Ridge and the Lion Plaza and the development of the house on Tiger Ridge into a permanent residence, with two bedrooms and the potential for further development. Materials for the project were donated by a number www.constructionnational.co.uk

of local companies who have been involved with the zoo over a number of years. In particular, contractor PRS Group donated not only materials, but also labour – including managing director Colin Webster appearing on site to wield a hammer! Insulation materials were donated by Wetherby Building Systems. In a statement, Wetherby said: “With two new tigers, Alisha and Dragan, arriving from Berlin to join a special breeding programme at Dartmoor Zoo, they needed a new enclosure that would help them feel safe and secure. “PRS Group agreed to donate time, resource and materials to build a new covered shelter for the tigers, while we donated render materials to ensure the building benefitted from a professional finish. “It is crucial the building is kept at a consistent temperature for the tigers, so PRS fitted insulation to prevent heat from both permeating the walls in the summer and escaping in the winter. It was then

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finished with our EpsiCoat Silicone K 1.5mm in shades of green, yellow and orange to complement the tigers’ surrounding habitat.” Sales director Paul Kirby said: “We always look to support local community projects where we can and, having a long-standing relationship with PRS Group, we were more than happy to come on board with this project when they approached us. Dartmoor Zoo does some excellent work and it was a pleasure to be able to support them with their latest initiative.” Colin Webster added: “This was a really exciting project to be part of and it is always good when we can give something back to our local community. We couldn’t have completed the tigers’ new home without the help from Wetherby and always appreciate their support.” Other supporters included the community interest company Surplus Rescue, whose managing director Shelly Monk is a board member of DZP, and socially responsible building company Obedair.

Tiger Day sees new enclosure opened Following completion of the new habitat, the new arrivals, Alisha and Dragan, were installed in their new home, where they soon felt at home. New developments at the zoo allow Benjamin Mee and his team of volunteers to continue and expand their work in both the conservation and therapeutic fields. Benjamin told local press last year: “Something we're actively engaged with is endangered breeding programmes, but also research into the behaviour of the animals that we've got so that you can export that information to wild populations.” A less obvious function of the zoo has been working with former services personnel suffering from PTSD or social isolation. In the same press interview Benjamin said: “When you put exservicemen with post-traumatic stress, for example, next to lions, it scares the crap out of them in a really good way, because it reminds them of who they are as an animal.” q

TIGER FALLS - HAMERTON ZOO

[ AT HAMERTON ZOO in Cambridgeshire a huge final effort enabled

its largest purpose-built habitat project – Tiger Falls – to be opened in time for Global Tiger Day on 29 July last year. Tiger Falls is home to Cicip and Sahaja, the only pair of Malayan tigers in the UK. The Malaysian tiger was only described by scientists for the first time in 2004, and there are thought to be only about 300 individuals left in the wild. Said the zoo: “We are very fortunate to be able to take such an important part in the direct conservation of such special animals and are honoured to be chosen to take part in this programme.” The new habitat covers some 2,500 sq m and includes the tiger house, with indoor viewing into the main den, and off-show dens for isolation and cub-rearing. There are also holding runs connecting to the main large enclosure. The enclosure features grassed and planted areas and a brand new cliff face with waterfall and pool. Viewing windows give great views of the pool and grassy areas from the covered interpretation area. Covered public viewing and interpretation areas are being developed to show details of tiger populations and evolution, information about the animals and displays showing the conservation work being done by the Malaysian Ministry of Forestry and Tourism. Following completion of the new home, in September the delicate task began of introducing Cicip and Sahaja to each other. Putting potential partners together is not without danger and they had been carefully monitored since their arrival from Germany back in 2015. The two cats are now settled into their new home. In a statement, Hamerton Zoo said: “We would like to thank our partners in this exciting development, Koda Creative and North Eastern Plant, who with Hamerton Zoo Park staff have helped bring the project together for a fraction of the cost of similar exhibits in other zoos.” Development work has not stopped at Hamerton, with new projects planned for next year. They included a major extension to the cheetah accommodation, which will include a six-acre drive-through to take small pre-booked groups into the habitat in a safari Landrover, plus a new walkthrough enclosure for meerkats and porcupines. q

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Supervisor allows workers into contaminated area [AN ASBESTOS removal supervisor has

been given a suspended sentence after admitting exposing workers to asbestos fibres during licensed asbestos removal works. Alan Burdett was a supervisor for Asbestos Decontamination Services Ltd of Birmingham and was engaged in the removal of a large-scale asbestos ceiling at the vacant Raleigh House on Discovery Park in Stockport, where he was in control of a group of removal operatives on a day-to-day basis. Manchester Magistrates Court heard that a report was received by the HSE claiming he was allowing people into the sealed asbestos enclosure – which is designed to keep dangerous fibres from escaping and contaminating people or other areas – without any form of protective clothing or face mask. HSE’s investigation found that a significant amount of metal framework which had supported the asbestos ceiling boards was stacked in the open building without being wrapped or sealed to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres. Alan Burdett had been filmed allowing workers to enter the asbestos enclosure without any face masks or protective clothing to prevent them being exposed to asbestos, as well as potentially releasing the fibres into the main building where there were no controls to prevent exposure. Burdett pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was sentenced to six months imprisonment,

suspended for 18 months. He was also fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000. HSE inspector Matt Greenly said after the case: “Alan Burdett totally failed in his duty to protect himself and his workers from a foreseeable risk of serious harm from asbestos fibres. Although

he was qualified and experienced he chose to completely ignore the risks from asbestos and in doing so has exposed several people to a risk of developing a deadly disease at some point in the future. As an asbestos supervisor he was in a trusted position and he has abused this trust.” q

Refurb companies can make Valentine’s Day a safety day [

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES and workers involved with refurbishment projects in Scotland are invited to attend a free health and safety awareness event organised by Site Safe Scotland’s Working Well Together campaign and North Lanarkshire Council. The half-day event on 14 February, at Clyde Valley High School in Wishaw, is aimed at small to medium-sized construction companies and will provide clear practical advice on how to address serious issues that can impact on both business and lives. There will be a rolling programme of presentations during the event on reducing risks during the refurbishment of domestic and commercial sites, covering topics such as working at height and health issues including asbestos, manual handling and welfare. HSE’s principal construction inspector in Scotland, Isabelle Martin, who will be attending the event, said: “Construction continues to be one of the most dangerous industries. Small sites account for the largest proportion of work-related deaths, with high levels of ill health and injuries each year. “Over half of all reportable injuries occur during refurbishment work with a high number of deaths following falls through fragile surfaces every year. “This free event will provide essential information and advice that could help save lives, so I urge construction businesses to attend.” q • For more information and bookings contact Anne Chesney of HSE at anne.chesney@hse.gov.uk or call 020 3028 2426.

Health in the workplace: securing your future [CASELLA, the leading technology company

for noise and dust monitoring, features in a new programme by the CIOB in partnership with ITN productions called Masterminds of Construction. It is currently available to view at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=nm2jJVFzfss. The programme features key industry interviews and news-style reports along with sponsored editorial profiles. In it, Casella demonstrates how their monitoring solutions are helping organisations adopt a new approach of ‘Treating Health like Safety’ and introducing this new perspective into the workplace. The programme also examines how worker health should be viewed with the same priority as their immediate safety and in doing so, how different businesses use monitoring solutions to improve the long term health of their workforces. London Underground provides the first case study, where workers on the platforms and elsewhere are at risk of exposure to noise levels that could eventually lead to noise induced hearing loss. Data captured by Casella’s dBadge2 noise dosimeter and 63x Series sound level meters provide the data needed for a proper risk assessment. Louise Long, health and safety manager at London Underground, champions the

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use of the dBadge2 dosimeter, especially for its role in identifying the risk and the preventative measures needed to protect workers – ultimately leading to lower staff absenteeism, higher levels of motivation and consequently an enhanced customer experience. Casella’s dedication to improving worker health through remote monitoring, where supervisors can assess exposure levels through real time analysis, is further emphasised in its collaboration with Park Health & Safety at London Heathrow Airport. Eric Ball, occupational hygienist at Park Health & Safety highlights the issue of dust exposures on airport construction sites when working with concrete, silica and wood dust that could lead to serious long term health problems. The innovative Apex2 personal sampling pump

created by Casella is used to determine exposure levels and provide relevant data to form a risk assessment, and to help modify work practices to achieve lower exposure. Jim Struthers, global sales manager at Casella, commented: “This film presented a fantastic opportunity for us to highlight how our products are actively helping organisations improve the long term health of their employees, principally by identifying the risks through analysis using equipment that measures and reports data in realtime using wireless technology. We are committed to providing the tools necessary to help everyone protect their own long term health. The film shows how in practice the approach of ‘Treating Health Like Safety’ is truly being realised.” Casella is passionate about improving workplace health and the ITN programme draws attention to its trusted products which promote worker ownership and independence. Released on 13 December, the entire programme can be watched at http://www.ciob.org/ masterminds-construction. q • To find out more about Casella, its products and the IS dBadge2, please visit www.casellasolutions.com, featuring a new live chat function, or follow @CasellaUK on Twitter or Facebook.

Cygnus wireless alarm system expands with new HF range

Bull Products’ market-leading Cygnus wireless ﬁre alarm system is designed for use on construction sites

[BULL PRODUCTS CONTINUES to expand its market-leading Cygnus

wireless fire alarm system designed for use on construction sites. The HF range has been introduced to accommodate the special requirements of wireless alarm systems used on temporary accommodation units located inside buildings under construction or refurbishment, or within 10 metres of these buildings. Designed to be fully compatible with all Cygnus equipment used throughout a construction site, there are two new control panels and various modules and devices now available for this purpose. The new CYHF control panel is fully certified to EN54 Parts 2 and 4. As a conventional panel, this can be linked into the Cygnus fire alarm system using the Cygnus IOU device. This allows the Cygnus system onsite to communicate to the wireless alarm system fitted within a temporary accommodation unit. The control panel communicates to the rest of the CYHF wireless devices via the translator module that is connected to the loop. Easily installed and very user friendly, the new control panel comes in two zone or four zone models and is surface mountable. There are alert inputs, on-board fire and fault relays and a combined keypad/key switch entry. The translator module is capable of linking up to 32 wireless detector and alarm devices and can be integrated into a wired system if required. A wireless expander module is available to increase radio strength and communication beyond a single translator which relays the radio messages to further expander devices or directly to the wireless detectors, core units or sounder/beacons. Various devices can be linked to the control panels, including optical smoke detectors, heat detectors, multi sensor detectors, sounder bases and sounder/beacon bases. All of these devices are compliant to EN54 for use in temporary accommodation units. The optical smoke detector has the capability to analyse different types of smoke particles to prevent unwanted alarms. The wireless heat detector can be configured to different settings such as fixed temperature, rate of rise or high temperature, and the multisensor detector is a combined smoke and heat sensor alarm. There is also a sounder and a sounder/beacon base providing a visual indicator with a flashing LED beacon. Bull Products’ Cygnus wireless fire alarm systems are used on numerous

construction sites across the UK including developments at Canary Wharf, Scotland Yard and Battersea Power Station. The system is able to link no less than 480 alarm unit devices in 15 zones and the recent introduction of the CYG6 fire alarm panel allows connection to 32 devices in one zone for smaller construction sites. Cygnus Systems are CE marked and are used in conjunction with a choice of units including fire call points, smoke detectors, heat detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and first aid call points. A PIR option is also available on any of the modules to detect an intruder and alert off-site personnel for added safety protection. Another recent innovation of the Cygnus system is the Ultima 2 remote monitoring module which provides not only SMS text messaging but also remote access to the panel so the system can be monitored. Designed specifically for use on construction sites, the CE marked Cygnus system works in dense concrete and steel structured building areas where there are many other radio frequencies in operation. Particular attention has been given to achieving an impressive connection range. A major feature of the complete Cygnus system is the optional CYG6 or CYG1 control panel which provide advanced capability with an event log function to record any events such as alarm activation, low battery warning and signal faults – all of which can be viewed as necessary on the history folder held on the panel. The system also has the ability to test all units and has an evacuate function which will act as a call point to the rest of the alarm units. Each unit in the system can provide the panel with information at regular intervals. This explicit information confirms the unit is still present and what the battery status of each device is. Called the ‘heart beat’ this message is monitored by the control panel where fitted and if the heart beat is not heard for several intervals, the control panel logs a fault status for that unit. Bull Products offers a full one-year guarantee on all Cygnus devices and provides a very high level of technical, on-site and after-sales service support in addition to its standard maintenance contracts. q • Further information on the Cygnus wireless alarm system is available from Bull Products on 01432 371170 by emailing info@bullproducts.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.bullproducts.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

NASC 2016 AGM news round-up Colin Butt buys [THE NASC HELD its AGM at

• 2016 NASC Apprentice of the the Grand Hotel Krasnopolsky in Year award winner was announced Amsterdam on Friday November as Kier Phur of TRAD Scaffolding 25th – releasing a range of news Co Ltd with Lisa Duncan of from the UK scaffolding industry A & J Maintenance Support Ltd trade body, including a record named as runner-up. A special level of membership. posthumous mention went to The busy agenda – reflecting Mike Towell of Interserve Industrial the high activity levels of Services, who sadly died following the confederation and its a boxing match in September. membership – included speeches • The approval of a special NASC president Alan Lilley from its president, Alan Lilley resolution to adopt new Articles (Commercial Scaffolding Ltd), of Association for the NASC, to vice-president and chair of the NASC Hire, modernise the confederation and embrace its Sales & Manufacturing Committee, Des Moore status as a not-for-profit organisation. (TRAD Group), training director and CISRS Robin James told the AGM: “2016 has manager, Dave Mosley and NASC managing been another exceptionally strong year for the director, Robin James, to a full audience confederation and its members – from the wide of NASC contracting, hire and sales and use and acceptance of the updated SG4:15 information members. Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations to the Addressing the membership, Robin James introduction of new members to the confederation provided a 2016 annual review with updates on and the launch of the successful Product the activities of the various standing committees Innovation Award and lots more besides. It’s (Audit, ASITO, Health & Safety, Technical, fabulous to see the membership and scaffolding Contracts and Hire, Sales & Manufacturing). sector flourishing.” Updates were also provided on employment NASC president, Alan Lilley said: “It is with affairs and marketing. He then revealed details of a sense of pride that I can say our mission over the confederation’s headline news, including: the past year to help companies meet our strict • Record levels of membership since the criteria and become NASC members has worked, confederation’s formation in 1945. The total cementing our position as the premier trade body number of full members is now at 229, a record for access and scaffolding in the UK. high. And with two companies in the site audit “It is my aim to continue on this upwards process, the confederation expected to breach trajectory and further increase the NASC 230 by the year end. membership in 2017 and help make it even more • The winner of the ﬁrst ever NASC Product attractive to small and medium sized companies Innovation Award to Acorn Scaffolding in the UK – giving them as much assistance (Yorkshire) Ltd for their ‘Acorn Super Structure’ as possible to reach the high standards of the £1.8m temporary roof at Creamfields Steel organisation and achieve membership status. The Yard with a highly commended award going NASC is open to all bone fide companies where to TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd for the ‘Big Ben access and scaffolding provides a significant part Braked Gin Wheel.’ of their business.” q

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Palmers Scaffolding

[THE UK’S OLDEST scaffolding

contractor, Palmers Scaffolding – formed in 1880 by Edwin Palmer – has a new owner, British entrepreneur Colin Butt who runs a number of established business from his UK base in Chester. In a divestment process at the end of 2016, which came into effect in January, Palmers was sold to businessman Colin Butt by previous German owners XERVON GmbH, who were looking to off-set some of their non-EU businesses post Brexit. The now British-owned and run Palmers Scaffolding UK Ltd – which employs 300 staff and consistently ranks in the top 10 of UK scaffolding contractors with multi-million pound turnovers (£15.3m in 2016) – will continue to run leading scaffolding and access solutions across the UK from its branches strategically located across the country. As one of the UK scaffold industry‘s leading access, scaffolding and related industrial services providers, Palmers will continue to focus on working on some of Britain’s leading projects and most important sites within the construction, airport, railway, petrochemical, power generation, marine and nuclear market sectors. New owner and Palmers Scaffolding UK Ltd CEO, Colin Butt said: “We are thrilled to be the proud new owners of such an historic brand as Palmers. They have established excellent, pre-qualified working relationships with some of the country’s leading contractors and we are looking forward to moving the brand forward in 2017 and beyond and working on some of the biggest, most important projects in Britain in coming years.” Palmers managing director Donald Morrison said: “It is very exciting times for the Palmers brand. Quality, health, safety and environmental excellence has been, and will remain, the number one priority in the delivery of our business. And with Colin Butt’s vast experience in the special access sector, his connections, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial skill set, it can only mean greater success for Palmers in the future.” q

Inaugural winners announced for Scaffolding Product Innovation Award [

THE WINNER OF the inaugural NASC Scaffolding Product Innovation Award has been announced as Acorn Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd for their impressive £1.8m ‘Acorn Super Structure’ temporary roof at the Creamfields Steel Yard event this summer. The structure measured 50m wide, 20m high and 90m in length. A highly commended NASC Product Innovation Award has been given to TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd for their revolutionary ‘Big Ben Braked Gin Wheel’ – designed to stop scaffolding loads plummeting from height. There were eight entries for the biennial award, launched this summer to celebrate the very best developments in new scaffolding materials and products from inventive NASC members at the forefront of change in the UK scaffolding industry. The entries were considered by an independent judging panel – Rick Statham of Safety & Access Ltd and Simon Hughes of Simian Risk Management Ltd, with NASC technical officer Ken Johnson the Acorn Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd’s award-winning ‘Acorn Super Structure’ point of contact for judging. The entries were: • Acorn Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd for the ‘Acorn Super Structure’ • TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd for the ‘Big Ben Braked Gin Wheel’ enhancing the safety of this commonly used lifting accessory, TRAD evolved • Malvern Scaffolding Ltd for their ‘Malvern Key-Tie’ this clever item through their in-house Play it Safe safety meetings. It was • Layher Ltd for the new universal aluminium HD beam seen as a major benefit to the whole of the industry by ensuring loads • HAKI Scaffolding Ltd for their cutting edge HAKI decking CADEE cannot plummet, which is a real innovation and safety feature. • system “This product will undoubtedly ensure a reduction in handling injuries. • TRAD Hire & Sales Ltd for the Plettac Metrix permanent Even hoisting upwards allows fluid movement and safe landing of materials • advanced guardrail – solving a major safety feature that is a common ‘near miss’ situation. • GKR Scaffolding Ltd for their new Elimin-8 innovative scaffold ﬁtting It will assist in significantly ensuring safe practice and helping to ensure • Focus Scaffolding Ltd for their two and three board hop-up bracket for operatives go home safely to their families at the end of the day.” • tube and fittings. NASC managing director Robin James said: “This new biennial award The winners were announced at the NASC AGM in Amsterdam where has attracted considerable interest and has been superbly supported by trophies and certificates were presented. And in addition Acorn and TRAD the NASC members. It shows the ingenious and inventive nature of our will now be able to use a bespoke NASC Product Innovation logo for a membership who lead the way with scaffolding product innovation, for period of two years. productivity and safety. Des Moore, NASC vice president and chair of the Hire, Sales & “Credit should go to all of the nominees and the hard working Manufacturing Committee gave a presentation on the various entries, members of our hire and sale committee, who pioneered this excellent showcasing cutting edge products to the membership and the scaffolding scheme. And particular congratulations go to the inaugural NASC industry as a whole. Product Innovation Award winners Acorn Scaffolding (Yorkshire) Ltd and Speaking about Acorn Scaffolding, the judges said: “Acorn came through highly commended TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd who the judges felt stood in creating an innovative structure using an innovative product. Their aim is out in the competition.” q to help clients deliver world class, unique and memorable events – specialising in innovative, temporary scaffold-based event structures. Their brief was to push the boundaries of festival production. “It took months of collaboration, planning and design. The effect was to give every festival goer enjoyment of the premium technical production and high end immersive technology. It is an exceptional product borne out of determination to reach solutions in close liaison with a manufacturer and client. The judges made their determination considering the project as innovation at its best.” Runner-up, the TRAD Scaffolding ‘Big Ben Braked Gin Wheel.’ was highly commended for its wide-reaching benefit, ensuring that loads do not go into free fall, and for radically reduced rope chafing characteristics. The judges said: “By applying designs from other industries to our trade and www.constructionnational.co.uk

NASC Apprentice of the Year 2016 [

NASC Apprentice of the Year 2016 Award winner Kier Phur of TRAD Scaffolding Co Ltd has been presented with his winner’s trophy and a cash prize of £500 by CISRS scheme manager and NASC director of training, Dave Mosley and award judge and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) special projects manager, Paul Gaze. Now in its third year, the CITB and CISRS sponsored award is aimed at individuals who are directly employed by an NASC member company and are either part way through a formal scaffolding apprenticeship with an approved CISRS provider, or have successfully completed the apprenticeship programme. The presentation took place at TRAD’s head office in East London, where Dave Mosley said: “Kier is hugely committed to his job – he lives in Canterbury and gets up at 3.20am to travel to London every day. He has performed to a very high level during his training at Waltham Forest and the testimonials provided by his instructors, employer, work colleagues and contractors all state he is a great asset to TRAD. “He is a worthy winner and demonstrates the benefits of the apprenticeship scheme to the individual, the employer and the wider industry. Congratulations to him and to TRAD Scaffolding. And we would also like to thank CITB for cosponsorship of this award and their judging expertise.” Accepting the award, Kier Phur (pictured) said: “Winning this award makes me believe waking up at stupid o’clock is all worth it – which in my eyes it is. I am looking forward to the years to come where I hope to be running jobs and sharing what I know with others.” In addition to Kier’s prizes, TRAD Scaffolding also received a trophy and £500 to be spent on scaffolding training with a CISRS approved training provider in 2017. TRAD’s Steve Kearney added: “TRAD are very pleased that our apprentice

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Kier Phur has won Apprentice of the Year, which is due not only to Kier’s ambition, endeavour and resilience, but also to the dedication of the National Construction College’s instructors, TRAD’s lead scaffolders and contracts team who have ensured that Kier has been trained, mentored and coached to a very high standard.” Paul Gaze said: “This year’s awards were very tough to judge, with a record number of quality entries from NASC members across the UK. Whilst it was a difficult process, two candidates in particular stood out, demonstrating their commitment to the scaffolding and access industry. They are a credit to themselves and their employers.” Speaking about the winner, he added: “Kier was recommended for this award by three external clients, his course lecturers, his apprenticeship officer and also six of his colleagues. All of their feedback identified a young man who is eager to learn his trade and strive to become the best. “Clients, project supervisors and colleagues at TRAD all commented on Kier’s willingness to get involved, to work safely, ask questions to help his understanding of the process and to learn more about scaffolding. Despite still being a young man himself, his peers have often witnessed Kier supporting labourers and less experienced trainees.” 2016 Apprentice of the Year runner-up was Lisa Duncan of A & J Maintenance Support Ltd in Dundee. There was also a special mention when the winners were awarded at the NASC AGM, for Mike Towell of Interserve Industrial Services, who was combining his scaffolding apprenticeship with a successful career in professional boxing. Sadly, Mike passed away following a boxing match in September 2016 before he could complete his scaffolding apprenticeship. He was nominated for the award by Lisa Duncan who was part of the same apprenticeship cohort. NASC, CISRS and CITB have all passed on condolences to Mike’s family. q

Record attendance at Working at Height Best Practice Forum [A RECORD NUMBER of delegates attended

the 2016 Working at Height Best Practice Forum in October, sharing their experiences and thoughts with like-minded professionals to help advance the safe operation of powered access, shape best practice and improve safety standards. Facilitated by the UK’s largest powered access company, Nationwide Platforms, the event has grown in size and stature to become one of the UK’s leading powered access safety conferences. Held at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, it was attended by more than 320 senior health and safety managers and directors representing a cross-section of sectors, industries and professions throughout the UK. Driving innovation and safety, Nationwide Platforms took the opportunity to introduce a

The discussion panel answered delegate questions and offered guidance and advice on the latest issues faced by the industry

As the oldest Britain to climb Mount Everest, Sir Ranulph Fiennes knows a thing or two about working at height!

The Forum’s market place allowed delegates the chance to share best practice ideas and thought provoking discussions with the industry’s leading suppliers and associations

number of new products at the event including the latest version of its SkySiren® PCS™ (PreCrush Sensing) secondary guarding system, which has now been designed for use on scissor lifts. The new system provides the highest level of operator entrapment protection for scissor lifts and follows on from the successful introduction of SkySiren® PCS™ for boom lifts last year (see: http://bit.ly/SkySirenPCSPR). Currently undergoing a supervised release with selected partners, fullscale production is scheduled for 2017. Other new products on show included the company’s SkyTel™ material handling attachment, which has been designed for the safe and efficient handling of mobile telecom antennas, and its latest innovation in safety, SkyScreen™, which has been designed to minimise the risk of dropped objects from the basket of an access platform when working at height. As well as discussing best practice ideas and having thought provoking discussions with the industry’s leading suppliers and associations, delegates also took part in interactive breakout sessions on emergency rescue, onsite MEWP management and the latest developments in secondary guarding. There were also a number of presentations from industry experts, including Nationwide Platforms’ managing director, Jeremy Fish, who opened the event with a speech on leadership. Skanska’s senior H&S manager, Nick Wing, gave an insightful presentation on the importance of ‘aggregation of marginal gains’ in regard to health and safety developments, while HSE’s principal inspector, Ray Cooke, commended the UK’s health and safety record with a presentation that concentrated on working at height. Finally IAPS Group’s managing director, Steve Couling, discussed the advances in tracked access product development. Honorary guest speaker, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, was also present in the evening to share his inspirational experiences on endurance, leadership and safety. Jeremy Fish said: “In these uncertain times strong leadership is as important as ever. Unfortunately as leaders, we are still not doing enough to make our industry a safer place to work. Leadership is about having the guts to stand up for what you believe in, showing others the way and taking them with you. The event is about encouraging leaders of businesses to come together and inspiring them to take responsibility. It is important that they lead by example to help make our industry a safer and better place to work. “In that respect, it was great to see so many leaders in one room dedicated to improving safety standards within the industry. It was also encouraging to see delegates interacting with suppliers about the latest powered access

Attendance at the 2016 Working at Height Best Practice Forum increased by 50% to a record 320 delegates

Nationwide Platforms’ SkySiren® PCS™ innovation being demonstrated on a scissor lift

The view of the outdoor display taken from a 70 metre truck platform machines and experiencing the very latest safety innovations. This year saw the introduction of SkySiren PCS for scissor lifts, as well as the chance for many to experience SkyScreen and SkyTel for the very first time. The feedback we received has been encouraging and we look forward to working on this year’s comments, ideas, and insights in order to develop the next generation of products and services that users of powered access expect from a market leading powered access company.” The Forum also featured a number of fun and exciting activities throughout the day and close to £4,000 was raised for the company’s chosen charity, MacMillan Cancer Support. This amount was matched by Nationwide Platforms’ parent company, the Lavendon Group, with a grand total of £7,818 being donated to MacMillan. q • For further information on Nationwide Platforms visit www.nationwideplatforms.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

Structural Concrete Alliance announces 2016 award winners [THE STRUCTURAL CONCRETE ALLIANCE has announced CCL (GB)

Ltd as the winner of the 2016 Structural Concrete Alliance Award for Repair and Refurbishment for its upgrading and strengthening work at National Grid PLC’s Isle of Grain site near Rochester, Kent (pictured right). CCL (GB) Ltd provided a solution to replace the existing restrainment system to the outside of the concrete bund walls surrounding the liquid gas steel tanks on the site. The 50,000m3 capacity tanks, originally commissioned in 1981, are each surrounded by a reinforced concrete bund wall to provide secondary containment in the event of a rupture of the steel tank. The bespoke solution involved the design of special anchors capable of restraining bursting forces of 223 tonnes per anchor and included the safe detensioning of the existing wire from around the bund wall, using a posttensioned assisted strap restrainment system. Defective concrete areas were repaired using a polymer-modified mortar, with a polymer-modified fairing coat and cementitious coating applied in the rebates. Second place was awarded to Sika Ltd for its restoration of Poplar Baths in London (pictured below). Sika provided materials for an extensive programme of concrete and structural repairs to transform the Grade II listed Poplar Baths from a former public baths to a state-of-the-art leisure centre. Owned by Tower Hamlets Council, the building was in such a poor condition due to chloride-induced cracks across its entire 1,600m2 surface area that it was included on English Heritage’s at Risk Register.

In conjunction with English Heritage and main contractors Guildmore, APA Concrete Repairs delivered a long-term concrete repair system and protective coating works to the building. Galvanic, sacrificial anodes were installed to manage steel corrosion in the interior which consists of curved reinforced concrete columns forming a series of arches. Third place went to VolkerLaser for its refurbishment and strengthening of the Woodhouse Tunnel in Leeds (pictured below). The twin bore, 4 lane tunnel carries the A58(M) beneath Leeds city centre. To minimise disruption to the public the scheme was conducted over two years of nightshifts. It involved a complex combination of extensive concrete repair including: strengthening by reinforcement addition; extensive sprayed concrete to large areas of repair; the introduction of galvanic anodes in most of the repaired concrete; and traditional formwork and reinforced concrete construction of wall thickening, involving extensive drilling and dowel fixing to tie the new construction to the weak existing walls. VolkerLaser developed a small structural tie allowing smaller drilled holes and reducing phasing requirements, saving time and money.

The winners were announced by journalist Kate Silverton at the Concrete Society Awards Dinner held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, London on 17th November. They were chosen from entries received from members of the three trade associations which make up the Structural Concrete Alliance: the Concrete Repair Association (CRA), Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA) and the Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA). Commenting on the awards, the judges stated: “The annual Structural Concrete Alliance awards aim to identify innovative structural concrete repair and refurbishment solutions that overcome demanding engineering challenges, while advancing technology and understanding. “Choosing the winners was extremely difficult this year due to the high quality and diversity of the entries. CCL’s solution for the Isle of Grain bund was selected as we were impressed by the innovative approach to safely detensioning the existing wire system, which we recognised as being extremely technically challenging. “Sika’s sympathetic restoration of Poplar Baths and the complexity of the logistics required in VolkerLaser’s refurbishment of the Woodhouse Tunnel served to highlight the innovation and flexibility our specialists must offer in developing repair and refurbishment solutions” q • For further information visit www.structuralconcretealliance.org.uk.

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MPBA training provides route to CSCS cards with new upskilling NVQ Level 2 By JACKIE MAGINNIS of The Modular & Portable Building Association

[

THE MODULAR & PORTABLE BUILDING ASSOCIATION (MPBA) is the representative body looking after the interests of the modular industry and is delighted that working with CITB there is now a Level 2 NVQ Diploma – Innovative/Modern Methods of Construction – available for the industry sector. The in-company training scheme enables employers to train their employees via in-company/on-the-job training, where no accessible off-the-job training exists. This scheme is designed for operatives without existing knowledge and is available not just for new employees but also for employees who are upskilling from another role. There are also no age restrictions for candidates. The training follows a structured but flexible bespoke on-the-job modular training programme developed by CITB and industry association members and is mapped against the units within the relevant occupational vocational qualification training programmes. The scheme will enable learners to put their new skills into practice as quickly as possible and improve their work performance. For the employer, this improvement will result in increased availability of skills and productivity with less lost time from the workplace. The end result will enable candidates to obtain a new CSCS card. To further assist the promotion of this training the MPBA has arranged for industry assessors to be trained from within the industry. It is supported by NSAC with training starting early in 2017. This has become even more important as, going forward, industry cards for this sector gained under ‘Grandfather Rights’ will not automatically be renewed, applicants will have to gain an NVQ within 12 months of their renewal application. Other training for electrical competence is also available – developed by the MPBA, endorsed by ECA and leading to a JIB/ECS

card. This scheme has been in place since 2010 and many operatives have now obtained the JIB card. Once again, proving the industry sector is continuing to improve standards and safety. Like all sectors of industry we are suffering from the effects of an aging workforce and are hoping to encourage younger people to join an interesting innovative industry that has been in existence since 1938. Today the industry is not all about providing construction site accommodation – albeit that is still very much part of what is required – as education, health and commercial markets are turning more and more towards modular buildings. The reasons are many, but the most important factors are speed, quality, versatility and cost. There are now modular buildings that the public use daily but, due to the clever design and quality, are difficult to identify. Like all industries over the years we have suffered with the global recession, but we have survived and today there is undoubtedly a confidence in the market place. Members have full order books and long may it continue. The lean years have made us a stronger sector, working together to command a better market share. As the industry trade association we work with the Department for Communities and Local Government and other controlling bodies on regulations and legislation. The association continues to work with members to develop guidance documents that help the industry to further improve the professionalism of the sector. Our aim is to get rid of the view that lingers in the minds of many that we still produce ‘prefabricated site huts of the 50’s’. This is definitely not the case. Many examples can be found on the MPBA web site at www.mpba.biz of the quality products that are produced by our members. q

Image supplied by MPBA member McAvoy Group www.constructionnational.co.uk

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a vibrant quarter of a century for Harlequin [IN THE 25 YEARS since they were

established, Lincolnshire-based Harlequin Office Furniture have seen substantial growth in many areas. An expansion plan has led to them acquiring extra storage space and employing more staff at their Scunthorpe headquarters. They have also secured larger contracts, enabling them to diversify their skills base and offer a one-stop solution. With an expanded portfolio, which includes a wide range of products and services, their customer base has grown to cover the whole country. Along with a standard selection of furniture, which runs from office chairs and desks to canteen furniture and lockers, they can offer a bespoke installation service. As they deal with a number of manufacturers they are able supply many different ranges of furniture. In addition to supplying the products, Harlequin pride themselves on their customer service, which has always been high priority. They strive to be the best by delivering 100% customer service, from the initial quote stage right up to their highly-trained installation teams and delivery staff.

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A further service on offer is the hire of furniture and equipment. With a wealth of different options and plans to suit any budget, it is always worth giving them a call to find out how they can help. This high standard of furniture and customer service comes without a high price tag. Maintaining competitive pricing brings the customer the best value possible. Harlequin cater for many different industries, from site services, schools and home offices

to modular buildings and construction. Their headquarters includes a newly-refurbished showroom, where they welcome existing and potential customers to come and look around at the ranges they offer. q â&#x20AC;˘ For more information about Harlequin products and services visit the website at www.harlequinofficefurniture.com or call 01724 271494. Alternatively, follow them on Facebook or Twitter @HarlequinOF.

Springfield – looking ahead with family values

[SPRINGFIELD HAS OVER 40 years’ experience in providing high

quality modular portable buildings primarily in the UK. Managing director Lyndsey Duggan is the second generation of the family who founded the business and has seen the company grow from a turnover of £2.4m in 2012 to almost £6m in 2016. From its headquarters and manufacturing base in St Helens, Springfield designs and manufactures all of its customer solutions, giving the company absolute control not only over the quality of its portable buildings but also over the supply chain to ensure the raw materials and components used are sourced locally and sustainably. This control ensures that the company has the ability to offer its customers incredible flexibility in both the buildings provided and the services offered, from full turnkey installations to a range of hire solutions. As testament to its national capability Springfield has recently completed a major installation at Newham College in East London (pictured). Following the area’s regeneration after the 2012 London Olympics, the college needed a company to supply a turnkey two storey classroom project comprising eight classrooms in total. As an established supplier to the educational sector, Springfield’s understanding of the key sustainability agenda saw them win the £750,000 contract and provide a complete turnkey solution from laying foundations through to commissioning services and completing installation – all within the tight deadlines defined by only having site access during college holidays. These high quality classrooms offer high degrees of energy efficiency, are fully compliant with all necessary building regulations and offer a genuinely low environmental impact through the speed of installation and minimised waste. Also, given the quality of individual installations, the operational lifetime of the buildings mean they can genuinely be re-used in a variety of locations throughout a period of ten to twenty years. “In many ways education is the market where we’ve seen more acceptance of pre-fabricated building solutions, in terms of multiple units that can be installed and ready to use in a matter of weeks, but the signs are that business as whole is cottoning on to the idea now the standards of what we manufacture have got so high,” says Lyndsey Duggan. Looking ahead, the future for the sustainable building industry looks bright, and whilst these sustainable credentials are both important

and established factors in the company’s strong local government and educational presence, the challenge faced by Springfield is to take this to broader commercial markets. Here the focus on the use of renewable and sustainable cladding such as Larch adds a new aesthetic dimension to portable buildings. Another important area for the company is the development of its hire business and again their core values are forging lasting relationships. Manchester City Council and Springfield have just celebrated five years supplying temporary buildings for education – due to increasing pressure on classroom numbers caused by issues such as immigration. Working within the council’s obligation to provide the best value for ratepayers through competitive tenders, Springfield’s continuing success over larger and more established industry operators is a testament to the choice and quality of supply provided. Working with the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) has ensured that the industry, and Springfield in particular, has moved far beyond what was once expected of a portable building. Modern technology can help extend building lifecycles to beyond 50 years, providing the same functionality and ergonomics of traditional buildings but with in-built sustainability. If there’s any doubt over the longevity and craftsmanship at Springfield, then a new display in the factory should put those fears to rest. Back in the 1980s, Lyndsey’s father Ken founded the business making a range of touring caravans and the company’s recent acquisition of a 1982 Springfield Acapulco is a reminder to all of their values – not least because the company’s John Gerrard was a serving apprentice who helped manufacture the caravan and is still making buildings to last at Springfield. Ultimately, the relationship with Manchester City Council is in many ways an ideal template for the future growth of Springfield Mobile. It recognises the value modular buildings offer on a short term basis, where once projects are completed modules can be professionally refurbished and put to new uses, creating the ultimate low impact sustainable building resource. q • For further information on Springfield Mobile call 01744 851958, email sales@spring-field.co.uk or visit www.spring-field.co.uk.

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Call for entries [

THE UK ROOFING AWARDS has launched its call for entries for the 2017 Awards, marking the start of the hunt to find the most outstanding roofing projects in the UK. Hosted by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, and taking place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on 19th May 2017. The awards are the highlight of the roofing industry calendar and serve to recognise and reward outstanding standards of workmanship and technical excellence across the roofing industry. Once again this year, entries can be submitted through an improved online system. Aimed at making the entry procedure more user friendly and seamless for busy contractors, architects and others, there is also an instructive video on the best tips for completing the process. Visit the awards website at www.nfrc.co.uk/uk-roofing-awards/awards-home. A spokesperson for the NFRC said: “We are delighted once again to open our entry system for the 2017 awards. Regardless of the shape, size, budget or location of the project, everyone’s participation is welcome and multiple entries may be submitted. Architects, specifiers and builders are also eligible to enter providing they are working with members of supporting trade associations.” Representing over 70% of the roofing industry by value and volume, NFRC is the largest and most influential roofing trade association in the UK and its primary aim is to promote quality contractors and quality products, ensuring that is members are at the forefront of all roofing developments. Deadline for entries is 10th February 2017. q • For more information please visit www.roofingawards.co.uk.

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The only bituminous roofing membrane with a 40-year BBA durability statement [

ALUMASC’S Derbigum waterproofing membrane is the only high-performance bituminous roofing membrane with a 40-year durability statement from the British Board of Agrément (BBA). Whilst competitors’ durability statements are typically for 20 or 25 years, Alumasc’s Derbigum stands out for its proven reliability with a 40-year BBA durability statement, which gives specifiers and end users added confidence as to the product’s in-service longevity. With a proven track record of success, Alumasc’s Derbigum systems have held a

BBA certificate since 1980 and offer a variety of environmentally-beneficial, sustainable characteristics. These include membranes with high levels of recycled content,

innovative CO2 neutralising membranes, energy efficient ‘cool’ roofs and vegetal, nonbituminous solutions. The original and best Atactic Polypropylene (APP) modified product on the market, more than 20 million square metres of Alumasc’s Derbigum have been installed upon a wide variety of buildings in the UK, including the Shard and Canary Wharf in London. q • For further information visit the website at www.alumascroofing.co.uk or call 0333 5771 500.

Alumasc’s SupaGOLD waterproofing provides perfect flat roof solution [ 2,200 SQUARE METRES of Alumasc’s SupaGOLD waterproofing

system has been installed at the Metropolitan Police Authority’s Quicksilver Patrol Base in London. Following numerous historic patchwork repairs to the existing waterproofing system, Vinci Facilities commissioned Alumasc to perform a detailed site survey of all flat roof areas. The resulting Roof Condition Report stated that the original system integrity was seriously compromised, with high levels of ponding, standing water and leakage to the main roof area. Varying levels of deterioration across the roof areas were also recorded and clear recommendations for how these would be addressed were given within the site specific specification. Alumasc’s SupaGOLD waterproofing system was advised as the perfect replacement for this roof as a key requirement for the project was that the system must be independently insured for up to 20 years. Vinci Facilities appointed approved installer TR Freeman to refurbish the 2,200m2 of existing roof areas using Alumasc’s Euroroof SupaGOLD warm roof system, to deliver high-performance waterproofing and a fully engineered tapered insulation scheme to ensure effective water management was maintained across the surface and eliminate the problem of standing water on the roof. The waterproofing system also included the refurbishment of the original roof lights with Alumasc bespoke roof lights. The first step was the complete strip and removal of the deteriorated waterproofing system from the metal deck beneath. Appropriate surface preparation to the area was then undertaken prior to the installation of the vapour control layer, providing immediate protection against water ingress into the main building and offices below. Areas identified as suitable for ‘up-grade’ received necessary preparation works and surface conditioning, prior to the application of the proposed specification. The Alumasc cut to falls (tapered) scheme was designed to enhance and overcome the existing design falls to each respective roof area. The design brief for the drainage plan was to utilise the

existing drainage locations, remove standing water from all roof areas and meet the target u-value of an average 0.18W/m2K. TR Freeman then applied the Euroroof SupaGOLD waterproofing system, which comprised of a vapour barrier, PU bonded PIR insulation SUPA XL underlay and finally the Euroroof SupaGOLD capping sheet. Effective planning and teamwork was essential, as all of the work had to be completed without disrupting the functioning of this critically important Police Response Unit which needed to remain fully operational at all times. Robert Bruce, operations manager of Vinci Facilities, commented: “The service and support from the initial survey through to completion was excellent. Alumasc provided us with the solutions we needed, such as the design of the tapered roof scheme to help with drainage. The 20 year independently insured system that was proposed helped us meet the key requirement for this project. We have worked very closely with Alumasc Roofing Systems and again the project has gone as expected.” q • Further details about Alumasc’s full range of waterproofing systems can be found at www.alumascroofing.co.uk or by calling 0333 5771 500. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Using Icopal’s Noxite roofing range to combat pollution [ICOPAL HAS STRONG environmental credentials,

which can be recognised throughout the company’s supply chain and the way it operates. It actively promotes excellence in the field, including the recycling of its products wherever possible. This minimises the use of raw materials and energy in the development and production of roofing and waterproofing solutions. As a result, Icopal products often exceed environmental standards. However, Icopal also recognises the need to be proactive in order to meet growing demands for sustainable construction practices. For example, Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, which covers England, Scotland and Wales, and the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, requires all local authorities in the UK to review and assess air quality in their area. Understanding its customers’ needs led to Icopal developing Noxite. Although the change in regulations to encourage sustainable construction is an important step in the right direction, Noxite goes one step further and proactively works with the environment to improve a building’s environmental performance. A bituminous membrane that purifies harmful NOx molecules effectively from the air, Noxite uses titanium dioxide to transform the harmful nitrogen oxide particles into harmless nitrates using sunlight, which are then removed and washed away by the rain. This has been validated by the BBA (British Board of Agrément).

Noxite in practice at a New Islington social housing development In response to feedback from tenants raising issues of water leaks and stained walls, Great Places Housing Group instructed IGL Surveying to assess the works necessary. With Icopal’s Noxite capsheet membrane, the project provided the opportunity for environmental concerns to also be addressed. The product’s ability to neutralise NOx particles in the air made it ideal for a building in such close proximity to Manchester city centre. Woodward Place in New Islington, Manchester, was only eight years old when Great Places Housing Group became aware of issues with the roof. They decided the best solution for its tenants was to provide an entirely new roof. It was keen to remain considerate of the tenants whilst work was carried out and tasked IGL Surveying, D.J. Hughes contractors and installers Young & Co with the challenge of carrying out the removal, repairs and installation. This was all to be done whilst tenants still occupied the building.

IGL Surveying took these considerations into account when specifying the roofing system. The existing system was entirely removed by Young & Co down to the plywood deck. The plywood was left so the risk of damage to the surface and potential hazards to tenants could be minimised. Icopal’s thermically activated membrane was then used. Since the vapour control layer bonded directly to the primed plywood without the need of a gas torch, installation time was shortened so disturbance was reduced for the tenants. The added benefit is that the bond is completed when the upper side of the membrane is torched to receive insulation boards. Brent Gaskell from IGL Surveying commented on why Noxite was specified, saying: “We were mindful of the government targets for reducing emissions, plus the fact that we were removing an existing aluminium sheet system. We considered the Noxite membrane, along with the full recycling of the original aluminium sheets, to be the perfect solution. “The building is located near to Manchester’s city centre where there are higher than average levels of air pollution from NOx gases in the atmosphere. Aesthetics were not compromised to achieve this solution either, as we were able to opt for the new Dark Grey Noxite, which provided a comparable finish to the original metal sheet roof.”

Continuing to innovate Following the success of Noxite, Icopal recently launched Decra Noxite – the combination of the popular Decra tile with the neutralising ability of the Noxite membrane. With architects and specifiers in mind, the Decra Noxite tile was produced to support them in meeting both design and environmental requirements. The appearance of Decra Noxite looks similar to some types of concrete tiles, but has been proven to outweigh their performance on robustness and weather security over the past four decades. Much like the Decra Classic tile, the new Decra Noxite tile is totally dry fixed throughout and contoured to provide a strong, interlocking roof covering. Having launched this addition to its environmental portfolio, Icopal has therefore also expanded its reach into other sectors – whether it’s social housing or a commercial building, there is an option for all to do their part in combating pollution. q • For more information on Icopal and its products visit www.icopal.co.uk, on Young & Co Roofing visit www.roofingnorthwest.co.uk, on IGL Surveyors visit www.iglsurveying.co.uk and on Great Places Housing Group visit www.greatplaces.org.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

New green roof research identifies plugs are the best way to establish healthy soil ecosystems MAGGIE FENNELL, Head of Boningale GreenSky, reveals the findings of a first-of-its-kind PhD study that was recently conducted with University of Sheffield’s Animal and Plant Science Centre to identify the best way to ensure that beneficial micro-organisms thrive on green roofs.

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HOW TO INTRODUCE micro-organisms on to a green roof in a beneficial and cost-effective way has long been a problem for green roof specialists. These valuable microbes, bacteria and fungi combine to improve plant nutrient uptake, which means that flowering performance on a green roof is likely to benefit. They can also help plants develop natural resilience to stressful conditions, to which they are subjected in a rooftop environment. In the first analysis of its kind, Boningale GreenSky sponsored PhD researcher, Dr Tom Young, to scientifically investigate with experts at University of Sheffield’s Animal and Plant Science Centre, how microscopic creatures can best be introduced to a sterile roof substrate. Beneficial soil organisms perform many functions which influence soil fertility and plant health. Substrate mixes are known to have a low level of biological activity which makes plants more susceptible to stress and disease. Our study found that applying arbuscular

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mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum directly throughout the substrate is expensive and not very effective. However, applying species rich diversity (SRD) inoculum to the plugs, or growing plants in pre-inoculated plugs, is a far better way to ensure that the micro-organisms establish successfully and form a biological relationship with the plant.

AMF is a specific type of micro-organism that helps plant roots take up nutrients and our production team combine it with additional beneficial bacteria and organisms that make the plants more naturally resistant to disease. The inoculum is watered onto the plants as they grow, beginning a symbiotic relationship that sustains both the plants and the microbes. We use a range of carefully audited SRD products which redress the imbalance in the green roof growing medium. This is a proven organic method that has been successfully used by our nursery, Boningale Nurseries, to improve plant health and reduce the affect of pests and diseases, with minimal chemical intervention. The findings from the study are an exciting development because they provide further information on the organic building blocks of a natural, healthy ecosystem, which is one of the key drivers of green roofs. q

MIXBROW CONSTRUCTION PROFILE

Rural idyll is home to go-ahead contractor

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JUST OUTSIDE IPSWICH, in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, is a modern industrial estate which houses the headquarters of Mixbrow Construction. Reflecting that environment, Mixbrow itself is a mix of the modern and the timeless – utilising modern construction methods such as BIM with a vision of quality that carries on a long tradition. The company sets itself lofty goals and its vision is ‘…to be recognised as a leader in construction and the benchmark against which our competitors are measured.’ Again reflecting the traditional values of its Suffolk roots, its mission is ‘…to provide great places to live and work’ by exceeding expectations, understanding the needs of its customers and delivering innovative solutions. Delivering high-quality buildings is the core aim. According to a company spokesman: “We understand that because every client is different, every contract is different. With our flexible approach and ability to deliver solutions, our knowledgeable and friendly staff will ensure that every project is completed with your needs at the forefront of our thinking.” That ability to adapt to clients’ needs has resulted in them becoming the trusted partners of blue chip clients and a natural choice for residential, industrial and public sector projects. Chris Dixon was the project manager on a major industrial project. He said: “The contract was executed on time and to budget with no accidents or incidents. The site management team were always in control of the subcontractor activities, site safety and standard of works, responding promptly to the client's changing requirements.” The breadth of their expertise is demonstrated by projects currently underway and recently completed. They include a £1.4m extension to a domestic property to create a new kitchen, swimming pool, spa pool, sauna and gymnasium. This project is scheduled for completion in November. Also due for completion in the same month is an exciting social housing scheme in Stowmarket. The £1.9m project, on behalf of Havebury Housing Partnership, will see the creation of 22 new onebedroom apartments. Meanwhile, the new village hall at Westhorpe is due to be handed over any time soon – a month ahead of schedule! A recent topping out ceremony marked the completion of the main structure and roof (pictured top right). Earlier this year, Mixbrow Construction transformed drab, under-used classrooms, offices and technology workshops into vibrant, learning and social spaces at the new sixth form centre of St Joseph’s College in Ipswich (top left). Mixbrow worked with Wincer Kievenaar Architects to provide a contemporary, light and spacious learning environment. The company’s status as a contractor with local authorities was given a formal boost when it was appointed to the Works Standing List of Babergh and Mid-Suffolk District Councils.

This status depends on Mixbrow providing a working environment that safeguards all employees, clients, members of the public and others that may be affected by their activities. That is reflected by their health and safety management system, which is fully compliant with the requirements of international standard OHSAS 18001 and is integrated into all aspects of the business. The company are also accredited under SafeContractor and the Contractor’s Health and Safety Scheme (CHAS). They have also successfully undergone the first compliance audit since gaining ISO and OHSAS certification of their integrated management system. q

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DREW CONSTRUCTION PROFILE

Building a reputation over more than a century

The new Tropical House at Marwell Zoo (left), Boehringer Ingelheim’s HQ extension in Bracknell (centre) and the Victoria House development in Winchester

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AN ENDURING SUCCESS story in the construction industry has been in the making in the New Forest area since 1908, to emerge as a major force in domestic, commercial and even defence developments. Drew Construction now comprises three distinct divisions – dealing with property development in the South West, major contracting for private and public sector clients and general works for private clients in the domestic and small commercial sectors. Perhaps the most impressive and extensive portfolio is in the sphere of affordable and social housing. Their expertise in that field was confirmed at the beginning of 2015 when the company was one of 25 contractors named by a consortium of 13 housing associations and local authorities across the South and South Wales to provide affordable housing schemes on a design and build basis. The most visible expression of Drew’s work in that field has been its partnership with Winchester City Council in delivering its aim of providing 300 new affordable homes by 2022. One of the largest of the schemes is at the former Victoria House development in the city. Work is now well underway on the project, following the demolition of the old sheltered housing scheme. By last November the basement had been excavated, with 5,000 cubic tonnes removed. The ground floor concrete slab and the ramp to the underground car park were also nearing completion. The new scheme will provide 27 flats – 18 aimed at people wanting to ‘downsize’, in a mix of one and two-bedroom homes at affordable rents, with a further nine two-bedroom shared-ownership flats in a separate block. An added point of interest was the discovery on the site of a number of graves dating from the Roman period, leading to an archaeological investigation. In a contrast to that side of Drew Construction’s work, the company is also currently embarked on the construction of a new Tropical House at Marwell Zoo near Winchester.

The design and build contract will provide around 1,300 sq m of space for animal exhibits and back-of-house support accommodation, including plant room. The exhibition space will be covered with transparent pillows of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) on a structural steel frame, with a concrete spine wall between it and the back-of-house accommodation. ETFE is 100% recyclable, allows natural daylight to shine through and is a popular product for green, sustainable construction. Two recently constructed projects also demonstrate the range of projects Drew undertakes. In Bracknell the headquarters of German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has been extended, together with its training facility. The two-storey extension, designed by GDM Architects, comprises ground-floor training rooms and staff washroom facilities with first-floor meeting rooms. At a ground-breaking ceremony in November 2015 Boehringer’s managing director Prof Klaus Dugi commented: “This is a significant milestone for Boehringer Ingelheim. We aim to create the best possible working environment for our staff and are always looking at ways to improve on the service and commitment levels we deliver to our patients.” Another state-of-the-art facility to be completed last year was the STEM Building at Brockenhurst College in the New Forest. The STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Building is wholly contained within the existing 2,800-student college campus, presenting obvious challenges in respect of traffic management and working within an occupied education environment. Constructed to BREEAM Very Good standard, it was completed on programme for the beginning of the academic year last year. The technological leaning of Drew’s projects echoes its own commitment to using the latest technology in building design. That led to Drew Construction being one of 16 participating contractors invited by the National Federation of Builders to attend a prestigious ceremony at the House of Commons in 2015, to recognise the achievements of its members working on the government’s BIM Exemplar programme. q

The state-of-the-art STEM Building at Brockenhurst College www.constructionnational.co.uk

Synchronised demolition: the next Olympic sport? [ONE WEEKEND IN November saw

spectacular demolitions carried out of motorway bridges at opposite ends of the country. Things began on Friday 18 November, when part of the M74 main arterial route in the west of Scotland was closed to traffic to allow the demolition of the Bothwellpark Road Bridge, to the north of Junction 5 at Raith. The replacement of the bridge formed part of the £500m M8/M73/ M74 Motorway Improvements Project, which is being delivered by Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) on behalf of Transport Scotland. The road was scheduled to re-open at 6am the following Monday in time for the peak-time traffic onslaught. However, Transport Scotland re-opened the M74 in both directions just after 11:30pm on the Sunday evening – over six hours ahead of schedule. Gabriel Valtueña-Ramos, general manager of SRP, said: “Our contractors Ferrovial Lagan Joint Venture and Amey worked round the clock to ensure the weekend demolition went as smoothly as possible, with 24 hour monitoring of the surrounding road network in place to minimise traffic disruption, and I’d like to thank all involved for contributing to the success of this complex and challenging operation.” That same weekend, in the South of England, Balfour Beatty demolished the Woodlands Lane Bridge across the M3 at Windlesham in Surrey

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(pictured). The demolition of the concrete bridge formed part of a £174m improvement scheme which the contractor is delivering on behalf of Highways England. The controlled demolition was carried out using a variety of methods to break up the structure and protect the carriageway beneath, including the installation of plywood protection, 150mm of timber mats and a further 600mm

of crushed concrete. Unfolding geotextile curtains were used to contain the dust and rubble when the bridge fell onto the protected area of the road. Over 250 engineers, construction and support workers delivered the project which was carried out in the early hours of Saturday 19 November. Stephen Tarr, managing director for Balfour Beatty said: “I am delighted that the work went according to plan in spite of the poor weather conditions – safely, on time and the carriageway was re-opened ahead of schedule. “The bridge demolition and its subsequent replacement will help ensure that people, communities and businesses remain connected as part of the strategically important upgrading of the M3 motorway.” q

Nominations still open for NFDC awards [

NOMINATIONS CLOSE on 24 February for the National Federation of Demolition Contractors’ 2017 Demolition Awards. Nominations must be made by that date to qualify for the awards, which will be presented at the annual Awards Luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel on 31 March. The demolition industry’s most prestigious event recognises the talents and achievements of its brightest names. Winners will receive a beautiful engraved trophy and some categories also offer £1,000 in prize money! Nominations forms can be downloaded from demolition-nfdc.com/awards. q

What goes up, must come down MIKE KEHOE, Lead Consultant at C&D, explains why demolition doesn’t have to be a dirty word with housebuilders

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IT’S FAIR TO SAY that demolition and housebuilding have never been the easiest of bedfellows. Most builders see it as a relationship that they have to take part in, but there’s always that feeling in the background that they are paying money to tear something down as opposed to putting something up. The reality for the property market – whether commercial or residential – is that you have to ‘clear the past to make way for the future’… and it no longer needs to be painful according to one of the sector’s leading experts. Mike Kehoe is one of demolition’s most experienced professionals and lead consultant of C&D Consultancy, an organisation that has worked with more than 20 housebuilders on over 150 sites in the last thirteen years. There’s not much that the Liverpool-born specialist hasn’t seen, offering technical advice and project management on bringing down tower blocks, remediating brownfield sites and completing sensitive inner city developments. “I’m definitely sensing a change in approach from homebuilders in the last few years,” explained Mike, who joined C&D founder John Woodward in 2013. “They’re now seeing demolition – if carried out correctly – as a potential benefit rather than an expensive overhead. “And it’s all about perceptions. If you view us as a necessary evil and involve us later in the project you’re not going to get the best outcome. Making us a central part of the build will deliver a completely different result in terms of reducing time waiting to get on site and thousands of pounds in cost savings. That’s not marketing rhetoric, you can ask any of our recent clients, including Redrow Homes, Berkeley Group and Barratts.” Mike continued: “One of our strengths is having a plan B, plan C, plan D – in fact we have a plan for every letter of the alphabet. “Housebuilders tend to go for one approach, cross everything that matters and hope it works. There’s been some really high profile examples where we’ve been called in when a demolition method hasn’t worked. Just take the recent two tower blocks at Seaforth in Liverpool. “Explosives didn’t work so we had to adopt a different methodology in order to get the desired outcome. We brought them down, but troubleshooting isn’t a cheap option for the customer.” ‘Intelligent or informed customer’ is another phrase housebuilders may be fast becoming used to. These are terms increasingly being used by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

during the initial phase of any demolition project and refer to the involvement of a technical expert who has been involved in similar scenarios in the past. “I suppose in a way it is a form of quality assurance that the organisation carrying out the demolition has the necessary knowledge to ensure everything goes ahead safely and – as mentioned earlier – an alternative plan if things don’t go right first time,” said Mike. “We have significant experience of working with the HSE and understand how they want projects to be run. This helps us when guiding the client on decisions, day-to-day running of the site and ensuring all of the workers involved are completing their duties in a safe and positive work environment. It’s one less thing the client has to worry about.” 2016 promises to be a big year for C&D Consultancy. The Wolverhampton-based company is on course to secure £1m turnover for the first time in its history and has just taken on a young apprentice to boost its team to seven staff. Growth has come thanks to the firm’s impressive reputation for working across all areas of demolition, including high profile

projects at Stanlow Refinery, Ferrybridge Power Station and the iconic Mander Shopping Centre in Wolverhampton. It has also been involved in bringing down four of Glasgow’s largest tower blocks (bringing the number of tower blocks demolished in Glasgow over the last ten years to 34), working with a number of housing associations and, just recently, steering the Berkeley Group through some sensitive demolition work on the Albert Embankment in London as well as a major project in nearby Hammersmith. “50% of our work is now residential and we are seeing a lot of call for our expertise on inner city contracts and retaining facades when renovating listed building,” continued Mike. “Clients, including Erith Group, 777, Safedem and DSM, call us in for a myriad of reasons. For initial planning, complete project management, troubleshooting a specific problem or for advice on technical elements of the demolition and that could include explosive, high reach and crane, wire rope pulling or deliberate collapse. “We are also fortunate that we’ve got a great team working with us. All of our staff have significant experience in demolition, health and safety and bringing parties together for a common goal – communication is a big part of how we do things.” And future trends for demolition and its relationship with housebuilders? “I can only see it getting stronger, as long as the developers continue their new approach of not going for the lowest price all of the time. What may seem like a good option on the balance sheet at the start, often turns into the most expensive ‘unseen’ cost by the end of it. “Other trends we are seeing? Well, there is definitely a greater focus on making sure everyone is trained in asbestos removal as a lot of the regeneration projects are involving buildings jam-packed with the deadly material. “And I have to say commitment to recycling on housebuilding projects is fantastic, with 95 - 97% of all material from demolition either sold back into the supply chain by the contractor or used by the developer in the construction. This is great to see.” Mike concluded: “If I could leave developers with one message it would be to choose the right, not necessarily the cheapest, demolition expert. It will speed up the job and often save you money in areas that you hadn’t previously considered.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

Truly sustainable [AS 2016 came to an end, Thompsons of

Prudhoe Ltd looked back over one of the most successful years in its history and forward to the most promising start to a year in a generation. Accounts filed at Companies House show that turnover increased by 7%, operating profit margin increased to 5.1% and profit margin after tax increased to 3.9%. On the back of these solid figures, after being shortlisted for the Construction News Specialists Awards 2017 for the deconstruction of Leeds City Council’s head offices at Merrion House, and in readiness

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for Thompsons’ first major demolition project in Manchester starting in January, Thompsons’ board has placed orders for investment in £2.5 million of new plant to arrive this year. Sustainability is a current buzzword, but not a new one, and is about much more than being environmentally-friendly. Considered management of business growth is key and encompasses sustaining jobs, fair profits, investment, relationships and resources – all of which contribute to sustaining our community. It also includes paying a fair share of tax to

sustain our country. Sustainability has been at the heart of Thompsons’ business since it was founded in 1948. With Thompsons of Prudhoe Ltd’s sister company W & M Thompson (Quarries) Ltd also posting healthy and improved business performance in its accounts, the Thompsons of Prudhoe Group confidently looks forward to 2017 – its 70th year in business – continuing to deliver sustainability for its suppliers, customers and 255 employees, in all its business operations. q

Did Christmas come at the wrong time for you? TIM WILKINSON, sales director of Ultimate Construction Finance, provides solutions to potential cashﬂow problems faced by ﬁrst tier subcontractors at this time of year.

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IT’S NOT THE best time of the year to be a specialist subcontractor. Most companies only work two to three weeks in December and then don’t get going again until the first week of the New Year is through. While this is great if you want to wind down and relax at the end of the year, it can play havoc with cashflow. It not only puts you behind schedule with the work, it also gives your customers an opportunity to delay payment by a few more weeks. In the meantime your overheads and wages have to be paid. It gets worse if you add a covering of snow or torrential rain which causes the build programme to fall further behind, adding to your money woes. What’s more, the industry is not renowned for being fast payers. In fact the sector is second only to manufacturing in having the most outstanding billing. According to research by the Asset Based Finance Association, it takes a staggering 107 days on average before payment is made.

I am sorry to paint such a bleak picture but I have some positive news, as there is a solution to ease the stress that may be caused to subcontractors by cashflow problems at this time of year. On the positive side, your customer is solid and trustworthy, the contract is safe, you know there is a good margin in the job and ‘eventually’ you will get paid. So think how beneficial it would be if your outstanding billing, whether it be uncertified applications for payment or invoices could be used to generate cash. It would quickly ease the cashflow pressure; and the process is easier than you may think. By arranging a Construction Finance facility, funding can be provided against both outstanding and new billing, thereby closing the gap between the work being done, supplier bills being paid and your customer actually paying. It is a bespoke facility that funds uncertified applications for payment on a fully confidential basis up to £3,000,000. The facility is suitable for established first tier sub-contractors across all trades provided they have a positive tangible net worth, are profitable and the turnover is £500,000 or more. There are several benefits of using Ultimate Finance’s Construction Finance: • We provide cash advances at the point of raising an uncertified • application for payment • It ensures regular cashflow so that future contracts can be taken • on without over-stretching • It is totally confidential which means your customer is unaware of • our involvement • It provides the opportunity to negotiate better terms with • suppliers • There is complete cost transparency of pricing and prepayment • percentages with no hidden extras • We enable live access to the account information 24/7 in order to • provide accurate real time information that shows how much • funding is available. So the message is clear. Do not have sleepless nights worrying about cashflow problems and don’t turn away any potentially lucrative contracts because you think you can’t afford to take them on. Just give me a call for a no obligation chat about how our Construction Finance solutions could benefit your business. q • For further information you can either call me on 07870 212180 or email twilkinson@ultimatefinance.co.uk.

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Asset finance in three easy steps [

BUSINESSES IN THE construction sector deal with many challenges, but keeping up with the pace of change and managing time and money remain key issues. To achieve the time, cost and quality goals of a construction project, investment in new machinery and equipment, as well as in IT, are vital parts of planning for growth and success. The question that many decision-makers face is whether they should purchase new machinery using cash, through external finance using their overdraft or by way of hire purchase or lease. Asset finance is a growing market. And the Office for National Statistics’ latest Business Statistics Briefing Paper for 2016 revealed that entrepreneurial activity in the UK remains high, with over 383,000 new business enterprises registered in 2015 – the highest in 15 years. With a growth rate of 12% in 2015, asset finance had its second consecutive year of double-digit growth, according to the sector’s leading trade body, the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA). The FLA also reported that almost 32% of all UK investments in machinery, equipment and software purchases were funded using asset finance facilities during the year. But, alongside Brexit, businesses are still facing key challenges when accessing external finance within the UK. With the pace of change moving so fast, the British Business Bank are building awareness of alternative sources of finance to support and, together with improving access to finance, speed of delivery and increasing SME businesses’ understanding of finance options, fintech businesses are increasing existing sources of finance and channels of funding. Recognising this pace of change and the way in which people work more digitally to stay ahead of the game, a leading finance broker has launched a new market-leading online asset finance platform to simplify access to the asset finance market. Asset Finance Compared (www.assetfinancecompared.co.uk) has been set up by independent finance broker, Midlands Asset Finance, to enable businesses to access and apply for asset finance for transactions ranging from £5k to £100k online, with larger transactions being looked at by their specialist relationship management team.

The online platform compares a wide panel of asset finance funders in three easy steps to offer a competitive, instant quote at the touch of a button. The funder which best matches the customer’s requirements in terms of asset category, credit appetite and price, depending on the customer’s financial standing, is selected. Unlike other comparison websites, once a quote has been accepted, Asset Finance Compared will not hand off a client to a funder to take forward a proposal. Instead, with their in-house team, they will work on getting full credit approval on the very best terms. They will take the transaction from the quote stage through to credit and documentation and finally to pay-out, keeping the customer fully up-to-date with their process. All businesses need to do is: • provide some basic details about the business and amount to ﬁnance • provide details of the asset(s) they are looking to purchase • obtain an automated, instant quote The site will analyse the information entered and undertake various checks and reference to data before issuing the best single instant quote on an automated basis. Identification is then verified using online technology by the in-house team, so the transaction can be handled quickly and remotely. Dave Chapman, director of Asset Finance Compared, says: “Our new Asset Finance Compared website and business model is an industry first, and it will completely transform the way that businesses source and secure asset finance facilities up to £100,000, with an instant quote being offered. “Having undertaken various checks within the platform, we can supply the quote with confidence for established businesses. “The pace of change is so fast,” he continues, “being able to trade digitally is essential to support customers’ growth and investment plans. “The three simple steps to finance, and the handling of everything inhouse, will save the customer valuable time and resource which can be diverted elsewhere.” q • To find out more visit www.assetfinancecompared.co.uk.

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Injecting cash when you need it most By ANDREW SAGAR, managing director of the Construction and Recycling Division at Close Brothers Asset Finance

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IN COMMON WITH many sectors, construction has not been spared the uncertainty that inevitably comes with macro-economic events like Brexit and an underperforming European economy. There is, however, good news on a number of fronts that point to a resilient marketplace, most notably in housebuilding. According to the latest influential UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), November data indicated that the UK construction sector continued to rebound from a weak third quarter of 2016 with business activity and incoming new work increasing at the strongest pace since March. Greater workloads underpinned a further solid rise in employment levels and input buying among construction firms. Countering the good news to an extent was the steep rise in the rate of inflation which had a knock on effect on the average cost burdens. The seasonally adjusted PMI figures picked up slightly to 52.8 in November, from 52.6 in October (over ’50’ means growth), signalling an expansion of total business activity for the third month running. Reports from survey respondents cited improved order books, alongside resilient client confidence and strong demand for residential projects. There were again reports that heightened economic uncertainty was a key factor weighing on output growth across the construction sector. Housebuilding activity remained the best performing category of construction output during November, which is an indication that with recent increases in housing delivery – based on figures from the Home

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Builders Federation (BHF) – it could be possible to achieve the government’s ‘one million homes in this parliament’ target, at an average of 200,000 homes a year. In the last financial year, more than 200,000 new homes were built with a 52% increase in housing supply over the past three years. The government’s own figures show that overall housing production between April 2015 and end of March 2016 was up 10% to 200,070. With demolitions removed, there were 189,650 net additions to the housing stock, up 11%. Of these, 163,940 were new-build homes, up 6% and a rise of 38% on three years ago. This is all clearly good news for a sector that has managed to broadly hold its own over the past few years. At Close Brothers Asset Finance, we help businesses cope with both an uplift and downturn in demand. We can look at the implications on your cashflow and assist with a cash injection or reduce your repayments by extending existing finance terms. With UK construction companies also reporting a steep and accelerated rise in their cost burdens in November, linked to supplier price hikes in response to exchange rate depreciation, we can also restructure your business finances to make any rise in costs easier to deal with. A great way to do this is through asset finance, which is where our team of experts at Close Brothers Asset Finance can help. Asset finance helps businesses spread the cost of major purchases over their life cycle. The asset delivers the same value, but the cost of its acquisition is paid in stages as opposed to a significant one-off payment. It relieves pressure on cash flow and frees up money to pay for other essential overheads, including machinery and equipment, managing complicated operations, client pitches, and even wage increases. Construction is a significant player in the UK economy but there are ways to mitigate the risks and still have a productive and successful business. q

Sector bucks Brexit doom predictions – with employment prospects looking up [

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY continues to confound predictions of financial meltdown as the country heads for an uncertain future. Indeed, companies in the industry signalled a positive end to 2016, led by the fastest rise in new order volumes since January 2016, according to the highlyrespected Markit/CIPS monthly analysis of industry activity in December. At 54.2 in December – up from 52.8 in November (50.0 indicates no movement) – the seasonally adjusted index signalled a robust and accelerated expansion of overall construction output. The headline index has now posted above the 50.0 mark for four months running, and the latest reading signalled the fastest pace of expansion since March. Residential building activity remained the best performing sub-category at the end of the year; indeed, the latest expansion of housing activity was the fastest since January. Work on civil engineering projects also picked up at a robust pace in December, while commercial construction increased only marginally.

New business volumes expanded at the strongest rate for 11 months, which marked a sustained recovery from the soft patch seen in the middle of the year. Reports from survey respondents cited rising client demand and a resilient economic backdrop. Tim Moore, senior economist at IHS Markit and author of the report, said: “December’s survey data confirmed a solid rebound in UK construction output during the final quarter of 2016. All three main areas of construction activity have started to recover from last summer’s soft patch, but in each case growth remains much weaker than the cyclical peaks seen in 2014. “Housebuilding remains a key engine of growth for the construction sector, with the latest upturn the fastest for almost one year. Meanwhile, commercial activity was the weakest performing category in December, reflecting an ongoing drag from subdued investment spending and heightened economic uncertainty.” David Noble, group chief executive officer at CIPS, echoed that sentiment, saying: “The residential sector raced ahead this

month, with the fastest pace of growth since January 2016. Strong pipelines of new work were reported across all sub-sectors, and construction firms showed improved confidence after the impacts of uncertainty around the EU referendum.” Uncertainty around Brexit, however, and the resulting weakness of the pound, had their inevitable effect. Tim Moore commented: “UK construction companies noted that the weaker sterling exchange rate had resulted in higher costs for a wide range of imported materials, while some also reported that forward purchasing of inputs had led to depleted stocks among suppliers.” David Noble was optimistic regarding employment prospects: “With these more resilient economic conditions, the sector also reported the fastest pace of job creation since May 2016, as companies developed their workforces to meet new projects. In the shortterm at least, the sector looks set to enjoy these improved demand conditions for the coming months, which is positive news after many months of instability.” q

Your own limited company: an easy guide to getting started Starting your own limited company can be one of the best things you have ever done for your career, but also one of the most daunting and confusing. Charlotte Wright of Foremans LLP has put together this little guide to make it a bit clearer. If you are still confused at the end of it give her a call.

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ONCE YOU HAVE done your research into your market and are happy to go ahead, your first step will be to incorporate your limited company at Companies House. You will need to appoint yourself as a director and register your shareholders (this can just be you but you can appoint other shareholders too). You will also need a Registered Office address. The address doesn’t have to be where you work from but this is where Companies House and HMRC will send correspondence. Companies House will provide a Certificate of Incorporation, effectively the company ‘birth certificate’. You will also have Articles of Association, which are the rules by which your company should operate, together with Share Certificates. If you have more than one shareholder you may wish to have a Shareholder Agreement as to who has what rights and votes. Be aware that the company is a separate legal entity in the eyes of the law. All companies need to set up a business bank account. You should always keep your business finances apart from your personal finances and make sure you keep a record of every transaction. If your accounts are separate it is much easier to keep everything organised. You may need to register for VAT depending on the level of your annual turnover. Alternatively you may wish to register voluntarily if it is advantageous for your business. For small companies with an annual

turnover less that £150,000 it may be worth considering registering for the Flat VAT Rate Scheme. The company should also be registered for Corporation Tax which is the company equivalent of income tax. All limited companies have to pay tax on their profits. You will also, personally, have to pay any tax due on the income you receive from your company, such as a salary or dividends. We always advise obtaining adequate insurance for your business. If you are going to employ anyone you will need employer’s liability insurance. It is also a good idea to have public liability insurance to cover you should anything happen to anyone who might be affected by the provision of your services. Professional indemnity insurance will cover you against any claims made against your work, such as negligence or loss of goods. Finally, of course, we advise appointing a qualified and reliable accountant to help you get it right! Foremans can assist with incorporating your company, setting up a business bank account and ensuring you get two years’ free business banking. We also offer free employer’s liability insurance, public liability and public indemnity insurance in all of our packages. What’s more, you will be introduced to your own personal client liaison advisor and accountant who know exactly what is going on with your account and are available to offer specific advice based on your circumstances. Foremans will advise you on ways you can maximise your income, so you can focus on running your business. If you need help, just get in touch. q • For free initial advice contact Foremans on 01244 625 500 or email Charlotte@foremansllp.com. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Award-winning Transporter adds greater economy to its many features [

THE VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER panel van capped off a notable year in December by claiming the Best Medium Van and Commercial Vehicle of the Year titles at the 2016 Commercial Fleet Awards. The Transporter’s versatility, smooth economical engines, comprehensive safety features and market leading residual values gave it the edge over its rivals in the hotly contested medium van sector of the LCV market. Collecting the award on behalf of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was head of fleet Chris Black, who commented: “What a year 2016 has been for the Transporter and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Transporter has continued to impress judging panels across the world and this award further demonstrates the quality of this model.” In October Volkswagen Commercials announced the latest version of its classic Transporter range. The BlueMotion is part of the sixth-generation of Transporters and adds impressive economy to the multi awardwinning van’s already long list of credentials. It’s hard to believe that the first Transporter took to the roads 65 years ago. Back then it succeeded in capturing the imagination and needs of professionals in all industries. The new generation of Transporter continues that trend with its striking new design, supported by clear contours and precise lines. Its interior is packed full of innovations and modern-day technology to assist the working day. The latest Transporter features a new generation of 2.0-litre TDI and BiTDI diesel engines with the EU6 emissions standards, delivering power outputs from 84 PS up to 204 PS. All engines include BlueMotion Technology as standard, featuring start/ stop, regenerative braking and low rolling resistance tyres.

An all-new touch-screen display includes DAB+ radio and Bluetooth as standard. In addition, the navigation system helps drivers find parking spaces, petrol stations and live traffic information. The most frugal edition of the T6 short wheelbase panel van has at its heart the proven 2.0-litre TDI 102 PS Euro 6 common rail diesel engine. Even in standard Startline form with five-speed manual gearbox, this van returned impressive economy and CO2 figures of 47.9mpg and 153g/km respectively. Other variations are capable of returning 51.4mpg on the combined cycle (a 7% improvement) and CO2 emissions reduced to 145 g/km. In order to achieve these improvements, the new BlueMotion Transporter adds aerodynamically improved wheel spoilers and lowered suspension, modified gear ratios, low friction tyres, cruise control and a speed limiter (to 62 mph) to the standard

BlueMotion Technology modifications which come as standard on all T6 models. Since they introduced structural safety features on commercial vehicles over 35 years ago, Volkswagen has maintained a policy of continuous safety development. Every model incorporates a range of both active and passive safety features, to help ensure the safety and security of both the driver and their load. Occupants are securely enclosed within a rigid safety cell with crumple zones to absorb crash energy, while the chassis and suspension are designed for excellent directional stability and handling. Features such as ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), driver and passenger front airbags, electric seatbelt tensioners and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System are fitted as standard. q

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The choice of experts is…the Expert

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THE NEW PEUGEOT EXPERT van has been awarded the title Medium Van of the Year at the 2017 What Van? Awards, announced on 13 December. James Dallas, editor of What Van? magazine, commented: “The Peugeot Expert represents a big step up compared with its predecessor in terms of quality, refinement and practicality. It should propel the brand to the forefront of what is a very competitive market sector. “The new Expert van brings useful innovations to the market and it now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best medium vans on offer. The Compact version breaks new

ground in the sector and gives its manufacturer a significant advantage over the competition – particularly with urban operators.” The Expert was also named as a winner in the Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year category, together with the Citroen Dispatch and Toyota Proace. All three vehicles are manufactured at the PSA Peugeot-Citroen plant near Lille in France and share a number of features. Nick Crossley, head of commercial actions in UK marketing at Peugeot, said: “The allnew Peugeot Expert van fully deserves this accolade and we are very happy to receive this award from What Van? magazine.

“I know British designer Keith Ryder and his development team will be delighted with this award, for it recognises their expertise in this class-leading design. Our customers will also appreciate this news, as it vindicates their decision to choose the Expert van that is equipped with an extremely competitive specification and compelling features: making it a fully-deserved ‘award-winning’ van.” The new Peugeot Expert can carry a maximum load of 1,400kg and is available in three body lengths, from the new Compact version at just 4.6m up to 5.3m. It is a vehicle also particularly well suited to urban journeys, with a maximum height of just 1.9m. q

New engine gives Boxer more punch [IN OCTOBER PEUGEOT completed the roll-out of its Euro 6

engines to include the Boxer van. The large panel van is now even more economical and dynamic than ever before, thanks to the fitting of the BlueHDi 2.0 litre diesel engines for better energy efficiency and durability. More energy efficient and environmentally friendly than ever before, the Euro 6 standard engines are designed with the most effective pollution control on the market. Designed and produced by the PSA Group, the BlueHDi technology engine is considered the most effective out there for treating emissions and optimising fuel consumption, making them the greenest Boxers yet. With the focus on quality and strength, the new and improved Boxer is available in three power levels: 110hp, 130hp and 160hp. The Boxer offers competitive whole life costs, due mainly to its best-in-class fuel consumption and maintenance costs, which rank amongst the lowest in the segment.

The connectivity of the Boxer has also been enhanced, making it even easier for professionals to make their vehicles an extension of their offices. These new additions include a holder for a digital tablet or smartphone, a USB connection and a 12V socket on the instrument panel to power them. The improved connectivity means time spent on the road is more comfortable with more interior entertainment to enjoy. q

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Clark-Drain wins the NBG 2016 award [CLARK-DRAIN HAVE BEEN named Supplier of the Year for 2016 in

the Civils & Landscaping category at the NBG annual conference and AGM. The award, which was presented by guest speaker Mark Watson, recognises efforts to build and maintain profitable partnerships with NBG independent merchants group over the past year. Clark-Drain’s David Westacott (pictured) accepted the award stating: “We are pleased to have won the award for the third time in five years. Clark-Drain will continue to successfully supply the NBG group as we do with all our customers for many years in the future.” Winners were revealed at the annual conference held in November at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales, where approximately 400 delegates gathered to celebrate the National Buying Group. The award ceremony was held on the final evening of the two day event, where key industry figures could network and see the new products that have been introduced to the NBG stable. At the event Clark-Drain showcased its new B125 square to round cover which is ideal for tarmac areas in driveways and paths. q Clark-Drain’s new B125 square to round cover which was showcased at the NBG annual conference

New rules set to ‘pump’ up the order book at Fabweld Steel Products [

A STEEL FABRICATOR is gearing up for a surge in orders for its latest innovation as new regulations around the ownership of private pumping stations come into force. Fabweld Steel Products (FSP) is predicting a rise in demand for a new secure access cover developed to help utility companies which are adopting thousands of drainage systems previously in private ownership. Fabweld’s research and development team has spent more than a year working on the new Fab Secure Access Cover (pictured) – a specifically designed manhole cover for the systems which pump waste water into the sewer network. Under new Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations, water companies were given until 1 October 2016 to take on responsibility for any pumping station that serves two or more properties, or lies outside a property boundary and links to the public sewer. Utility companies have been tracing and surveying the private facilities, but many will still be implementing the changes and upgrading pumping stations after the deadline, according to managing director Richard Hilton. “These private drainage systems consist of pumps located inside large manholes, known as wet wells, with a purpose of pumping waste water into the nearest sewer network,” he said.

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“The pumps are protected via a manhole cover and depending on the location of the wet well, they could easily be exposed to vandals or other attacks that could seriously compromise the public sewer network. “Utility companies will be looking for a safe and practical solution that will allow them easy access yet provide a high level of security and our new Fab Secure Access Cover provides that.” The company has spent more than a year devising, manufacturing and rigorously testing the Fab Secure Access Cover at its Telford headquarters. FSP has applied for an LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) Security Rating 5 providing maximum protection against fire or deliberate damage for elements of the cover and has patents pending on its secure locking system. It can be manufactured in a range of sizes from a minimum width of 450mm to a maximum of 2,600mm and a minimum length of 450mm to a maximum of 2,100mm. The Fab Secure Access Cover also has optional extras including a safety grid, mesh vent, alarm bracket and housing for a proximity sensor. q • For more information on the Fab Secure Access Cover go to www.fsp.co.uk, call 01952 581430 or email sales@fsp.co.uk.

Network Rail High Speed adopts WinCan family [

HS1, formally known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, runs from St Pancras Station in London to the Eurotunnel’s terminal at Cheriton, near Folkestone. The 109 km high speed railway is used for domestic and international train services as well as transporting freight. As with all such engineering constructions, there is far more to the successful running of HS1 than just getting the trains from A to B on time – there is a significant amount of ‘behind the scenes’ work to be undertaken on a daily basis. Not least is ensuring that track, earthworks and structures have fully functioning drainage irrespective of the weather conditions. As it is relatively modern, the HS1 infrastructure can operate with more relevant standards and asset data storage systems than those with assets over 100 years old, and Network Rail High Speed can utilise a different approach with regards to drainage Typical output data from the WinCan system utilised by Network Rail High Speed’s management. According to Thomas Morgan, asset engineer with asset management engineers Network Rail High Speed: “One thing that we ensure we do is to share best practice with our industry and railway partners to support future innovation.” highlight potential trouble spots. The WinCan Analyst software tool offers Network Rail High Speed has been monitoring the degradation of drainage a good visualisation of active location conditions and can highlight local assets to allow the use of quantitative data in determining appropriate hotspots needing further investigation or maintenance before they become a intervention points for maintenance and renewal operations. significant problem. Having investigated a number of potential software options, they needed WinCan Analyst software is based on the WinCan VX platform, securing a strategic solution that would enable engineers to visualise assets and asset a direct integration of inspection data to the analysis without a need to condition and to identify a suitable platform to support future maintenance interchange the data, which could reflect in loss of specific information. One of records. The preferred option was a GIS system underpinned by a database. its main values is the seamless integration into different GIS systems and the Ultimately the search brought Network Rail High Speed to WinCan which optimisation for high performance, even with high data volume. WinCan Analyst was finalising development of its latest CCTV reporting software WinCan contains different functional areas – management of status data of the sewer VX as well as its WinCan Web remote storage and access facility and the systems including their automated classification, analysis of the characteristics WinCan Analyst and WinCan Map support systems. Discussions highlighted of the sewer systems in GIS systems, the issue of statistics and reports as well how working together in the development of a specific system suited to the as maintenance and rehabilitation planning for pipes and manhole systems. requirements of Network Rail High Speed would provide the strategic solution. The WinCan Map VX system is a geographic information system for sewer At the time Network Rail High Speed operated its asset management utilising networks. This software allows engineers to navigate and analyse inspection some 250 survey DVD’s and associated reports. WinCan was able to convert data using familiar GIS views and tools and accepts all major GIS data formats this historic drainage data and CCTV video into the latest WinCan VX format including ESRI, AutoCAD, DXF/DWG, MapInfo and OpenStreetMap – or, as in and produced a GIS model which can be interrogated to determine asset type the case with Network Rail High Speed, its own in-house mapping system. and condition. This highly flexible interface offers easier interaction where it can group Network Rail High Speed has to manage some 225 km of track with elements according to function, resize them, and turn them on or off with over 10,000 drainage assets, including a significant amount of under-track customisations that can be saved for easy recall and sharing. Also, when an structures such as culverts, as well as the main track drainage system. The asset position is unknown, WinCan Map VX can accept coordinates directly implementation of the new WinCan suite has allowed them to visualise the from a GPS unit and map it. entire drainage network with regards to hydraulic and structural defects. This In terms of data visualisation, WinCan Map VX offers colour-code map has enabled engineers to understand how the drainage network performs across elements according to asset attributes and can then save those preferences as a each catchment area. template. Several standard templates also come with the software. Thomas Morgan said of the system: “This now allows us to prioritise our Given that during a mainline inspection important information is gathered drainage maintenance works and support our future drainage strategy to ensure about lateral connections – such as location, angle and clock position – WinCan that our budget is spent wisely. The WinCan suite allows us to implement Map VX can also use this data to display laterals on GIS maps and export them targeted maintenance on our most critical drainage assets and efficiently identify to DXF and Shape files, and the whole process is fully scalable. any defect ‘hotspots’ which require maintenance.” Summarising, Thomas Morgan said: “With the WinCan software suite The WinCan Web software also allows operatives to see accurate records Network Rail High Speed is confident that it now has the correct platform to in real time on site, via iPad or tablet applications to enable an informed record future maintenance activities and support the future proactive drainage decision on any reported defect. From a strategic point of view, the WinCan strategy for the route. Some 98% of validated drainage data is already up and Analyst and Map tools allow decisions to be made on drainage maintenance running on the new system from the historic data that WinCan has reformatted and enable the planning engineers to export map layers to Network Rail High for us, and we now have the right platform on which to build and to make Speed’s own GIS route model – a key requirement for any new drainage asset future information effective.” management system. For WinCan, Paul Woodhouse said: “We are very pleased to have been able to work with the Network Rail High Speed team to develop a product that will Integrated access when needed enable them to manage, plan and implement drainage works based on current Where the traditional reporting systems fall short is that they are often paper, and easily accessible data without the need to ‘man-handle’ reports as has been DVD or video based and can be difficult to access without significant time and necessary in the past. This type of situation is precisely the sort of operation effort. This may lead to assets being examined not on an ‘as and when required’ that WinCan Web has been designed to handle quickly and effectively. We will, basis but on ‘rotation’ as that asset comes to the top of the pile, with some of course, be available to offer any necessary support to the Network Rail High defects potentially not being recognised at an early enough stage. Speed team as the new WinCan system develops further.” q The availability of the WinCan Web, Analyst and Map software means that new surveys will be accessible more quickly with the ability to • For further information call 01483 762222 or visit www.wincan.com. www.constructionnational.co.uk

Bill’s fifth NHBC title is a record! [

THE NHBC HAS announced the Supreme Award winners in its 2016 Pride in the Job competition. The victors were crowned on 13 January at a gala ceremony in London and included a record-breaking fifth Supreme Award for Bill Hughes of Miller Homes North West.

Architect wins RIBA award for own home [

IN DECEMBER the RIBA announced the winner of its 2016 House of the Year. The winning design was Murphy House in Edinburgh by Richard Murphy Architects. Built on an ‘awkward plot’ at the end of a terrace, Richard Murphy’s design for his own dwelling is ‘a deeply personal space filled with tricks, surprises and references to his own design heroes’. RIBA president Jane Duncan said: “The Murphy House is this year’s best example of how to overcome challenging constraints, from planning restrictions and an awkward site in an urban location, to build a stunning house. Plus the architect overcame one of the biggest obstacles: a demanding client – himself! “Nearly a decade in the making, this house is a true labour of love for Richard. Part jigsaw puzzle, with its hidden and unexpected spaces, and part Wallace and Gromit with its moving pieces and disappearing walls, this is a model house of pure perfection and a worthy winner of the RIBA House of the Year 2016.” q

Bill won in the Large Builder category, for developers building more than 1,000 NHBCregistered homes per year. His winning site was The Views in Billinge, near Wigan. The awards are made in four categories. In addition to Large Builder they are: Small Builder (up to 50 NHBC-registered homes per year), Medium Builder (50-1,000) and Multistorey (projects of five storeys or more for multiple occupancy). In the Small Builder category the winner was John Greggain of L Greggain and Co Ltd for Myrtle Meadows in Steynton, Dyfed, while the Medium Builder award went to Steve Walker of C G Fry and Son Ltd. Steve won for Phase 1 of the North East Quadrant at Poundbury. The Multistorey award went to Russell Bond of Barratt London for Aldgate Place in London. NHBC has been rewarding the best site managers in the UK for the last 36 years and this year’s Supreme Award winners were selected from more than 16,000 sites across the UK. The judging process started back in July with the announcement of the first stage Quality Award winners. The second stage – the Seal of Excellence – took place at regional award ceremonies around the country, with Regional Award winners then going forward to January’s event. q

Direct Corporate Clothing reports strong growth [

DIRECT CORPORATE CLOTHING (DCC) has posted a 22 per cent increase in turnover following a number of high profile contract wins. Birmingham-based DCC is one of the UK’s largest providers of workwear, corporate wear and personal protective equipment (PPE) with customers including Miller Homes and Travis Perkins. In the year to October 2016, DCC recorded turnover of £26.5m compared to £21.7m for the same period in 201415. Over the same period, staff numbers increased from 100 to 120. The company attributed its growth to new contracts with companies including Balfour Beatty and Geo Amey alongside increased spend from existing customers. Earlier this year, DCC acquired Leeds-based The Business Wear Company. The move saw industry veteran Nick Atkinson return to the DCC board to head the company's corporate wear strategy. DCC recently hired Helen Woodall as head of purchasing to lead a team of 12 people that manages the company’s extensive worldwide supply chain. Nick Atkinson, corporate and communications director at DCC, said: “We are

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delighted that our focus on customer service and high quality garments has paid dividends with an excellent set of financial figures. “We work in partnership with some of the country’s biggest operators to design and manufacture workwear, PPE and corporate wear that is reliable, practical and innovative. “Our state-of-the-art warehouse and digital ordering system ensures that customers’ service and product expectations are exceeded and stock is always available at short notice as required by their workforce.” Nick said the fall in value of sterling against the dollar had impacted on margins for many businesses in the corporate clothing industry, which import from the Far East and buy in US dollars. He said the challenge was to work closely with customers to manage prices. “Strong relationships between suppliers and customers enable compromises to be reached. Winning and holding business is not built on price alone but on delivering a service and quality product that matches what has been agreed,” he said. q • For further information on DCC call 0121 543 1333 or visit the website at www.directcorporate.co.uk.

Direct Corporate Clothing’s corporate and communications director, Nick Atkinson (left) and joint managing director Sam Sohal

Building controllers name their winning projects [

ONE OF THE most prestigious awards ceremonies in the building industry take place each November in London. They are the Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards. This year’s event took place on 28 November at the Westminster Park Plaza in London. The ceremony was hosted by TV presenter Nick Knowles, best known for his work on DIY SOS. The awards showcase buildings and design teams that have had to tussle with difficult technical or construction issues and building site constraints. The 15 categories include major housing projects in both the private and social or affordable sectors, small developments and even individual dwellings. There are also categories for public building and commercial projects. In addition the awards recognise outstanding working relationships between professionals, plus the very best building contractors.

The Grand Finals are the culmination of a nationwide search for excellence. Throughout the year regional awards are held, with more than 1,000 entries being scrutinised. From them the national winners in the various categories are selected, together with a number being highly commended. Paul Everall, chief executive of LABC, said: “Our Building Excellence Awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local authority building control teams achieve highquality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are unique because they recognise how this co-operation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.” The following pages look at some of the regional award winners from around the country, beginning with one of the national winners. q

Owners pitch in to help land conversion title BROOK COTTAGE, WHITBY

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OVER 700 BUILDING industry professionals – including contractors, architects and engineers – attended the Grand Final of the 2016 LABC Building Excellence Awards to hear a panel of industry experts delivering judgement on a list of the highest-quality projects from around England and Wales. Following his opening remarks, host Nick Knowles announced the winners of the first category, that of Best Extension or Alteration to an Existing Home. The title was won by Brook Cottage in Grosmont, near Whitby. The project involved the conversion, extension and refurbishment of a Georgian-style detached cottage by the edge of the river Esk. It was carried out by Martin Thistle Construction to a design by BHD Partnership – with help from the owners and their family! LABC chief executive Paul Everall said: “There are a number of reasons why this project won at our Grand Finals: from the use of local contractors,

suppliers and family members to reduce the carbon footprint to introducing disabled access through the ground floor, and finally the project team’s excellent working relationship with building control. Congratulations to everyone involved.

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“Our Building Excellence Awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local authority building control teams achieve high-quality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.” Sara-Jane Hill of North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership, the LABC concerned, said: “Careful design, combined with enthusiasm and a drive to build a home that suited the owners’ needs, has created a modern and functional interior within an attractive traditional façade.

“Great credit is due to the owners for their vision and hard work and to the builder for his skill and quality of the build.” Owners Graham and Karin Henderson were particularly enthusiastic about the work involved and the finished product. “When we purchased it, it was in a very dire state,” Karin said. “We knocked the cottage back to a point where there was no roof, no floors and only three walls. We then completely redeveloped the main house, extended it to almost double the size, then added a glass balcony over the river so we can now walk around the property. It’s almost a complete new build – a challenge in a National Park.” q

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Country house extension clears the extra hurdle

GLANWYE, POWYS

[ CONTENDERS FOR THE LABC Building Excellence Awards in Wales have to negotiate an extra hurdle on the road to the Grand Finals compared to their colleagues elsewhere. The LABC Cymru awards are divided into two: North Wales and South Wales. The winners then reconvene in Cardiff in the autumn to decide who will represent the whole of Wales in London. In the case of the category for Best Extension or Alteration to an Existing Home for 2016 the winner came from the South Wales division. It was won by the project to extend Glanwye, a Victorian country house in Builth Wells in Powys. The house was already notable as the childhood home of racing driver and aviator Glen Kidston, who won the Le Mans 24hour race in 1930. Glen was known as ‘The Man Who Couldn’t Be Killed’ after being torpedoed twice in a morning in 1914 and walking away from numerous crashes. The LABC Cymru award was for the addition of two new wings to the house. In keeping with the traditional quality and

craftsmanship of the property, the detailing is stunning, as is the hand-dressed stonework. The extensions are split level, with handmade kitchen and hardwood finishes. The project was carried out by local contractor and property developer TLP Construction, overseen by architects Garner Southall. Both firms are based in nearby Llandrindod Wells and are close contemporaries, having both been established in 1974. It was nominated by the building control department of Powys County Council. TLP Construction’s Anthony Evans posted on receipt of the award on 23 September: “A very proud and privileged moment at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium today, picking up the LABC all-Wales Award for Best Extension/Alteration.” The house is still in the Kidston family and visitors on one Saturday in May can enjoy the large Victorian garden in return for a small entrance fee in support of the National Gardens Scheme. The scheme raises funds for nursing and caring charities. q

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ST MARY’S MEWS, CHELTENHAM

Award-winning new townhouses continue architectural tradition [ THE WEST OF ENGLAND regional finals of the LABC on 6 May

saw a development of just seven townhouses in Cheltenham declared the Best Small New Housing Development. Cheltenham is a vibrant Regency town, best known for its beautiful architecture – in particular the Regency masterpieces of Nash and others – and the St Mary’s Mews development carries on that proud tradition. Architects the Stanley Partnership said of the design: “The

temptation for any lower cost houses is to create dull and formulaic solutions. Our solution was very economical to build with the latest timber frame technology, also resulting in low energy consumption for the final occupants. “Working closely with our client, it was decided to create an enclave of desirable and exciting houses, not usual in this part of town.”

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Long-standing relationship brings its reward

St Mary’s Mews has been built on the site of a once-derelict warehouse on Swindon Road in what has now been described as an up-and-coming area of west Cheltenham. It was built by well-known and respected local contractor Robert J Western Building Services – known informally as Rob. Each dwelling is carefully planned to maximise space and light and integral parking is provided as well as rear courtyard gardens. The effect on the local area is already positive as other buildings are being improved. When one of the properties came on to the letting market recently it was described thus: “The stylish accommodation includes entrance hall with Karndean flooring, cloakroom, kitchen/dining room with a range of integrated appliances and door to the rear garden. “There is a first floor living room, two good sized bedrooms, home office and a luxury bathroom. Outside is a private carport and enclosed town garden. The property is approached via a secure electric gated vehicular entrance leading to an attractive paved driveway.” q

HULME BROTHERS BUILDERS

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APRIL MARKED THE beginning of the regional round of the LABC Building Excellence Awards, with the North West event at the Bolton Whites Hotel at the Macron Stadium: home to Bolton Wanderers FC. Around 600 people attended the event, which was hosted by Chelsea Norris from Greater Manchester’s Key103 Radio. They heard that the prestigious award for Best Local Builder/Traditional Craftsman had gone to Hulme Brothers Builders of Ellesmere Port. Owned and operated by brothers Keith and Dave Hulme, the company has been carrying out extensions, refurbishments and new build in the Ellesmere Port area of The Wirral for 22 years. In addition to the large number of high-quality domestic projects carried out for private clients, the company has notched up a number of more extensive successes. In particular, a growing relationship with a local developer of properties in the social care and affordable housing sector has led to the building of a number of houses and the conversion of a church into sheltered flats. All work the company wins is through reputation and word of mouth. In fact, in all its 22 years the company has only had to advertise for business on two occasions, according to Keith Hulme. All work carried out by Hulme Brothers is certified by Cheshire West and Chester LABC. That has been the case throughout the company’s history. That long-standing relationship led to their being nominated by the department for the award of Best Local Builder/ Traditional Craftsman. As for the future, the family tradition is being carried on, with the introduction eight years ago of Keith’s son into the business. q Image courtesy of Eden Photography

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